Bill Pascrell: “Seven former IRS Commissioners wrote, and we need to take a look at it because obviously they weren't all Democrats and…”

“Seven former IRS Commissioners wrote, and we need to take a look at it because obviously they weren't all Democrats and they weren't all Republicans, but seven former IRS Commissioners have said: ``Over the last 50 years, none of us has ever witnessed anything like what has happened to the IRS appropriations over the last 5 years and impact these appropriations reductions are having on our tax system.'' The percentage of callers able to reach a live person at the IRS in the 2015 filing season was just 43 percent. The average wait time was 28 minutes. At one point during the filing season, the Taxpayer Protection Program line, which answers calls for victims of identity theft--a growing issue day by day--was not answering 90 percent of the calls. That is not acceptable to your side. It is certainly not acceptable to our side, but your solution is, by no means, the solution. If you were truly concerned about improving customer service at the IRS, you would fully fund the agency. And we would support that. Penalizing the IRS is misguided and, in the long run, the consequence hurts the taxpayer. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Kelly of Mississippi). Members are again reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.”