[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A COMMISSION TO OVERSEE 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. Mr. Speaker, I associate myself with the general comments 
of the gentleman from Ohio. He is absolutely right, Mr. Speaker. In 
light of the hearings we had on the IRS, it is clear that there is 
immediate need for reform.
  We Republicans have joined with some Democrats in urging a citizens 
oversight commission for the IRS. Incredibly, the White House has 
opposed this. The President's Chief Economic Advisor, Gene Sperling, 
called the proposal for citizen oversight of the IRS ``a recipe for 
conflict of interest'' and ``a serious step backward''. The President's 
comments were even worse than those of his advisor. He said, ``I 
believe the IRS is functioning better today than it was five years 
ago.'' The President claimed that a citizens commission to oversee it 
would mean ``less accountability'' and ``less trust in the agency.''
  I cannot conceive of how the IRS could possibly have less 
accountability and less trust from the American people than it does 
today. This administration has its head in the sand on this issue. The 
IRS must be held accountable by taxpayers and citizens, not by the 
White House and bureaucrats.

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