[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 19 (Monday, May 11, 1998)]
[Pages 770-771]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

[[Page 771]]

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 route 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.