Press Releases

This week, Congressman Larry Bucshon, a physician from Southern Indiana, joined his colleagues in the House to pass measures that protect hardworking taxpayers from government overreach. Three of the bills were specific to protecting taxpayers from recent overreach by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  These measures are part of a larger package of bills related to “Stop Government Abuse Week.”  

Bucshon released the following statement regarding his votes: 

“As an American taxpayer, I have serious concerns about a government agency, like the IRS, actively working to silence the free speech of citizens.  Our Founders established a government that works for the people, not the reverse, and it is my Constitutional duty to hold this Administration accountable for its abuse of power.  

“Dealing with the IRS is already an unnerving experience for many Americans, and their recent actions have only reaffirmed public distrust of the agency.  These bills put the taxpayer back in control by reinforcing their rights, increasing transparency, and instituting aggressive Congressional oversight of IRS-taxpayer interaction.” 

BACKGROUND:

In response to a large number of IRS scandals, three bills passed out of the House this week enumerate a basic Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and prescribe how the IRS should interact with taxpayers moving forward.

1. H.R. 2530, the Taxpayer Transparency and Efficient Audit Act improves IRS transparency and accountability during the audit process. Specifically, H.R. 2530 requires the IRS to: 

• Provide a substantive written response to any taxpayer who corresponds with the agency within 30 days.
• Provide pertinent information to any taxpayer whom the agency discloses personal information about to any federal, state, or local agency/government. 
• Conduct and conclude an audit of an individual’s tax return in no longer than 1 year. 

2. H.R. 2531, the Protecting Taxpayers from Intrusive IRS Requests Act prohibits the IRS from requesting information regarding taxpayers’ religious, political, or social beliefs, protecting their First Amendment Rights. 

3. H.R. 3865, the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act of 2014 prohibits the IRS from finalizing proposed 501(c)(4) regulations, that have been directed at the Administrations critics,  for one year so that the House Committee on Ways and Means can complete its investigation and process the 23,000 public comments.

In August of last year, Bucshon joined the House to pass a package of bills that empower citizens and stop government abuses that threaten our economy as a part of “Stop Government Abuse Week.” The measures address issues ranging from unfair taxpayer funded bonuses, citizens’ rights when dealing with federal regulatory officials, and more. More information can be found here - http://bucshon.house.gov/press-release/dr-bucshon-votes-stop-government-abuse. 

A full list of the “Stop Government Abuse” bills the House considered this week can be found here - http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USHRC/2014/02/24/file_attachments/273043/%2528Courtesy%2Bof%2Bthe%2BMajority%2BLeader%2529%2B%2523StopGovtAbuse%2BWeek%2BBills.pdf.