Herb Kohl: “I want to make just a brief statement to emphasize my strong support for the IRS Reform bill which passed the Senate…”

“I want to make just a brief statement to emphasize my strong support for the IRS Reform bill which passed the Senate earlier today. Many thanks to Senators Roth and Moynihan and the Finance Committee members for their efforts, and especially Senator Bob Kerrey, whose year long effort on the Restructuring Commission made this reform package possible. The IRS Reform bill contains significant measures that will improve the life of every American by improving an agency that touches the lives of every American. The bill will reform IRS management by enhancing private sector input through the creation of the Oversight Board. It will also strengthen internal IRS management by providing increased flexibility to hire the best people, recognize those IRS employees who do their jobs well and fire those who do not. Perhaps most importantly, the IRS Reform Bill is grounded in the principles of consumer protection and accountability. We all agree that the IRS should run more like a business, focusing on management efficiency and high standards of performance. But businesses answer to shareholders and the bottom line. The IRS must answer to the American people. And for too long, the agency has operated as if it answered to no one.”