[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     WHITE HOUSE CHAMPIONS THE IRS

  (Mr. ROGAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROGAN. Madam Speaker, during this last week, the other body has 
conducted hearings that are extremely significant to all Americans. We 
finally had a congressional committee turn over the rock at the IRS. 
What we heard were horror stories coming from citizens, taxpayers, and 
even from IRS agents who testified anonymously.
  It did not surprise me, Madam Speaker, to see on the front page of 
U.S.A. Today that 69 percent of Americans believe the IRS abuses power 
often--not just now and then, but often. What did surprise me, Madam 
Speaker, was to see on the front page of the Washington Times, in 
response to a Republican congressional proposal that a citizen 
oversight board protect Americans from the IRS, that the ``White House 
champions the IRS.'' The headlines say that ``the President opposes 
citizen oversight.''
  Republicans in this Chamber, Madam Speaker, have made clear that the 
status quo with the IRS is unacceptable. I hope that the President will 
reconsider his apparent refusal to see citizens oversee the IRS, 
instead of having it the other way around.

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