Orrin Hatch

I have been watching with deep concern Russia's use of economic and trade measures against the new Ukrainian government.

We have had this situation arise where it looks like the IRS is being misused and that some people have acted improperly at the IRS.

The IRS Commissioner at the time stood up to the President and the White House and refused to allow the IRS to be used for political purposes.

All I am asking is that, if Mr. Koskinen decides to resolve this matter, he has the authority to do so.

I have introduced legislation, along with Senator Flake--let me get to that here. The bill would stop the IRS from intimidating or targeting groups for their beliefs.

I think you and I agree 100 percent that the IRS should be totally apart from politics.

In one of the darkest moments in modern political history, President Nixon sought to use the IRS to target his political enemies.

Mr. Secretary, do you think it is appropriate to propose more regulations before the relevant committees, including this committee, have completed the investigation of the IRS actions?

The entire budget is an answer to that question, because it is not just one thing that we have done

I think that bears repeating. President Obama's latest budget contains more than $1 trillion in proposed tax hikes.

I look forward to a long-term working relationship with you.

Every one of our big economic challenges depends on sustaining and growing the middle class.

This conversation on the budget is different than it has been in recent memory, because this year the Congress is actually operating under a bipartisan budget agreement.

Last year, the Social Security trustees, which include you, reported that the Social Security Disability Insurance Trust Fund will be exhausted in 2016.

We need to drive economic growth, because the engine for creating jobs in this economy is economic growth

Over the next 10 years spending on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and exchange subsidies will total over $21.6 trillion

If you look at the policy thrust of building our infrastructure and skills training... those are the things we need to do to have a vibrant economy in the future

We are now looking at every possible economic lever to pressure Russia to step back from its unprovoked incursion into Crimea.

I do not think it is controversial. Just let the full light of day shine on these practices before allowing the IRS to move to new restrictions on any political activity.

Need additional revenue to maintain our commitments to seniors.

There need to be steps that hold Russia accountable for actions taken to date

Put simply, the tax hikes envisioned in the President's budget are not what our struggling economy needs.

It is very, very important to have Secretary Lew here and to have this hearing on President Obama's Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposals.

In my view, it would be useful for the administration to focus more on growth in the economy and jobs than on how the President's party will fare in the next election.

I want to welcome our distinguished friend from Virginia, Senator Warner, to the committee.