On the recordApril 15, 2015
I thank the chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge approval of H.R. 709, the Prevent Targeting at the IRS Act. This bipartisan legislation has over 50 cosponsors and actually passed by voice vote in a previous Congress. I think the overwhelming support for this legislation shows that the vast majority of Members, regardless of their party affiliation, believe the IRS should be above politics. Congress has already acted to create a list of fireable offenses at the IRS. In 1998, the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act passed by a vote of 402-8. It sought to bring accountability to the IRS by allowing for the immediate termination of IRS employees who engage in the so-called ``10 deadly sins'' against taxpayers. Many of the Members in Congress today supported those reforms back then. Unfortunately, while that legislation covers many offenses, it did not include political targeting. I have no doubt this was a simple oversight. This is not a partisan issue. I cannot imagine any Member would support a process for removing an employee for bad behavior but somehow not consider political targeting to be a bad enough behavior. It is absolutely unacceptable for a government official to consider the political leanings of any taxpayer when conducting official business. If a Federal employee engages in political targeting, that employee should be fired. It is that simple. My legislation will make sure of it.…
