Orrin Hatch: “Mr. President, today we will cast one of the most important votes of the 105th Congress. Today, we vote to enhance the…”

“Mr. President, today we will cast one of the most important votes of the 105th Congress. Today, we vote to enhance the power of the individual taxpayer and to reduce the opportunity for abuse by an arm of the federal government. We will vote on the conference report to H.R. 2676, the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998. This legislation is a tremendous leap forward in enhancing the credibility and effectiveness of the IRS. But Mr. President, this bill is about more than just changing the way one federal agency works. This bill is about reflecting American values and priorities; it is about remembering who the federal government is here to serve and what it is here to do. 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.”