[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[May 2, 1998]
[Page 670]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 670]]


The President's Radio Address
May 2, 1998

    Good morning. Today I want to talk about our efforts to improve 
service and end abuses at the Internal Revenue Service. American 
citizens have every right to expect that they'll be treated with respect 
by a Government that works for them. A big part of our values as a 
people include courtesy, efficiency, and fairness from Government.
    For far too long in the minds of too many Americans, the IRS has 
symbolized an immense bureaucracy, a place where unfair treatment and 
unresponsive service were far too common. We've worked hard to give the 
American people an IRS that is fairer, more efficient, more responsive 
to their needs, and to support the many dedicated IRS employees who do 
want to serve them well. And we've made progress.
    Two years ago I was proud to sign into law the second Taxpayer Bill 
of Rights. It's made it easier for taxpayers to appeal IRS decisions and 
to recover attorney's fees when the IRS makes mistakes. And last May 
Vice President Gore and Treasury Secretary 
Bob Rubin began an unflinching top to bottom 
review of customer service at the IRS. They reported back to me with 
their recommendations, and we're already beginning to see a new IRS that 
is more committed to the needs of taxpayers.
    We're keeping IRS offices open longer during filing season, 
launching independent citizen advocacy panels to help taxpayers get 
relief. Now you can call the IRS and get telephone service 6 days a 
week, 18 hours a day; soon it'll be 24 hours a day. And this year 24 
million Americans saved an awful lot of time and hassle by filing their 
returns on the phone or electronically. I've also appointed a new IRS 
Commissioner and a new kind of IRS Commissioner. Charles 
Rossotti is an experienced businessman 
who spent his entire career on the taxpayer side of the table.
    But we've got more to do. Like most Americans, I was outraged by 
testimony at last week's congressional hearings on the IRS, by the 
stories of our citizens harassed and humiliated by what seemed to be an 
unaccountable, downright tone-deaf agency. These problems developed over 
years, of course, and we can't solve them all overnight. But 
Commissioner Rossotti has moved swiftly 
to rout out abuses and to further reform operations of the IRS.
    Also, he's asked Judge William Webster, the former Director of the FBI and the CIA, to conduct an 
independent review of the criminal investigation division. As further 
steps are needed, they will be taken.
    But above all, our new Commissioner 
needs new tools to build a better IRS, and he needs them now. Last year 
our administration worked with the House of Representatives to pass 
sweeping, strong, bipartisan reform of the IRS, to give citizens more 
protection, improve service, reduce abuse. Now the Senate is poised to 
enact very similar legislation. I call on Congress to make this year the 
year we set aside political differences to enact real reforms of the 
IRS. When it comes to quality service at the IRS, Congress can't afford 
to file for an extension.
    As we continue to improve our work, we may uncover more problems at 
the IRS. Now, if we do, I pledge to the American people that once again 
we'll act swiftly, guarding against abuse, punishing those who cross the 
line. And as we do, we will build a fairer and more effective Government 
for a stronger America in the 21st century.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 4:30 p.m. on May 1 at a private 
residence in Palo Alto, CA, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 2.