Orrin Hatch: “today we will cast one the most important votes of the 105th Congress. We will vote on reforming the Internal Revenue…”

“today we will cast one the most important votes of the 105th Congress. We will vote on reforming the Internal Revenue Service. Of all the powers bestowed upon a government, the power of taxation is the one most open to abuse. As the agency responsible for implementing and enforcing the tax laws that we here in Congress pass, no other agency touches the lives of American citizens more completely than the IRS. I believe that Americans understand and appreciate that they have to pay taxes. Without their tax dollars, there would be no defense; no Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid; no environmental protections; no assistance for education or job training; no national parks, food inspection, or funds for highway and bridges. But, everywhere I go in Utah, I hear from my constituents about their frustrations. My office receives numerous letters each month detailing taxpayer interactions with the IRS. It seem that everyone has had, or knows someone who has had, a bad experience with the IRS. The stories range from small annoyances such as unanswered phones or long periods of time spent on hold to shocking abuses such as unwarranted seizures of assets or criminal investigations being based on false information for the purpose of personal revenue. It is small wonder that the taxpayers are scared and frustrated. These stories illustrate a disturbing trend. They are dramatic reminders of the failure of Congress to exercise adequate oversight over a federal agency.”