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All executive branch departments and agencies exist solely by receiving prior authorization from the First Branch created by the U.S. Constitution. That would be the Congress of the United States. Somebody should remind IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel of this fact.
ThreeU.S.senators,allRepublicans—JohnBarrassoofWyoming,MikeCrapoofIdaho,andJoniErnstofIowa—aregettingagoodstartonsuchareminder.Thenextquestioniswhethertheyfollowupinameaningfulwayfollowingtheusual,utterlypredictablebureaucraticevasionanddouble-talk.
ErnsthasfocusedheavilyinrecentyearsondrawingpublicandcongressionalattentiontothelaxresponseoftopIRSofficialstoagrowingtrendwithinthefederalagency’sownworkforceoflate-filingoftaxreturnsandtaxesowedbutunpaid.
InthelatesteditionofanannualassessmentofthisissuebytheTreasuryInspector-GeneralforTaxAdministration(TIGTA),whichErnstoriginallyrequested,morethan5,800IRSemployeesandcontractorswerefoundtoowenearly$50millioninunpaidlevies.
Amongthesetaxcheatsare3,414IRSemployees,representing4%oftheagency’scurrent
