Bob Kerrey: “the National Restructuring Commission included this provision in our bill. It is in the House bill, or at least…”

“the National Restructuring Commission included this provision in our bill. It is in the House bill, or at least provisions in it that dictate that an employee who does a number of things would be automatically terminated. What the Senator from Texas has done is identified some additional things that ought to be on the list and once again has carefully drawn it--I believe the language is ``willful'' and--what was the other word, I ask the Senator? ``Willful'' and ``intentionally.'' This would not be a situation where an individual accidentally underpays taxes or misses a deadline or something like that. This is a much higher standard, a much more difficult standard. And I think it is a quite reasonable provision to add to the list of things that would force and require automatic termination. In general, this legislation is attempting to change the culture by saying here are some things that, if you do it, there are going to be severe penalties. This is obviously a severe penalty. Punitive damages for damages, we have an expanded right for legal fees. What we are trying to do is change the culture so that there is a new seriousness given to actions taken by the IRS. And all of us understand the penalty needs to be sufficient to meet the offense. I think the amendment of the distinguished Senator from Texas is a reasonable one and I urge its adoption.”