[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE IRS: LAWLESS, ABUSIVE, OUT OF CONTROL

  (Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, a few weeks ago Newsweek Magazine had on 
its cover these words: ``The IRS: Lawless, Abusive, Out of Control.''
  Now, these are not my words. This was Newsweek Magazine, a very 
mainstream publication. When Newsweek Magazine describes any Federal 
Agency as lawless, abusive, and out of control, things have gotten 
pretty bad. But when it is the IRS, an agency that touches all of us so 
personally, this is an especially horrendous situation.
  About 85 to 90 percent of the people want us to drastically simplify 
the Tax Code. There is no good reason why we should have a tax law that 
is so hopelessly complicated and convoluted and confusing. Yet will we 
do it?
  Well, Madam Speaker, do not hold your breath. The IRS would lose much 
of its power and some extremely big businesses would lose some of their 
tax breaks. Very powerful interests are fighting tax simplification, so 
we will probably do little more than just cosmetic changes around the 
edges.

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