[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 19 (Monday, May 11, 1998)]
[Page 818]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Senate Action on Internal Revenue Service Reform 
Legislation

May 7, 1998

    I am very pleased that IRS reform took a major step forward today 
with bipartisan passage of the Senate bill. We've worked hard to give 
the American people an IRS that is fairer and more responsive to their 
needs and to support the many dedicated IRS employees who do want to 
serve them well. We've made progress, and final passage of this reform 
bill will help our efforts to give Americans the modern, customer-
friendly IRS they deserve.
    Vice President Gore and Treasury Secretary Bob Rubin last year 
completed a top-to-bottom review of customer service at the IRS. This 
effort has launched a complete revamping of customer service at the IRS. 
IRS offices and phones are open longer, problemsolving days have been 
instituted, and independent citizen advocacy panels are being launched. 
I've also appointed a new kind of IRS Commissioner. Charles Rossotti is 
an experienced businessman who understands technology and understands 
customer service. Certainly, not every problem will be solved overnight, 
but our new Commissioner is committed to ongoing reform and to 
correcting problems when they arise.
    The Senate bill, like the House bill, will provide Commissioner 
Rossotti the tools he needs to succeed, and it will expand taxpayer 
rights. The new personnel flexibility provisions will allow the IRS to 
bring in talent and expertise from the private sector. The bill provides 
taxpayers with a stronger Taxpayer Advocate. It also advances the 
important goal of expanding electronic filing of tax returns to make it 
easier for taxpayers.
    I urge the House and Senate to act quickly and send me a bill to 
sign that expands taxpayer rights and moves us forward towards 
delivering an IRS the American people deserve. We will continue to work 
with the Congress on a bipartisan basis on a final bill that advances 
our shared goals, that avoids unintended benefits for noncompliant 
taxpayers, and that is consistent with our commitment to fiscal 
discipline.