[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRESS MUST CHANGE THE BURDEN OF PROOF IN TAX CASES

  (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, an IRS agent testified under oath that 
taxpayers who fight back are told, and I quote, ``Sue us; go right 
ahead, sue us and prove that we are wrong.''
  Think about it. After our taxpayers are hit with unnecessary tax 
bills, heavy enough to cause a hernia for the Jolly Green Giant, they 
are told, ``If you don't like it, sue us.''
  This is not hearsay, this is not rumor, this is an exact quote of an 
IRS agent who also said, ``Beware, Congress. The IRS will tell you 
these are isolated incidents. That's not true. This is, in fact, 
standard policy.''
  Beam me up. I say it is time for Congress to shove these illegal 
tactics right up the assets of the IRS. The IRS has been created by 
Congress. Congress caused this problem, Congress must solve this 
problem, and Congress must change the burden of proof in the tax case, 
or else the IRS will keep saying, ``Prove it, sucker, prove it. Prove 
we're wrong.''
  I yield back all the balance of these illegal tactics.

                          ____________________