Press Releases

Today, U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the House unanimously adopted his amendment reducing funds for the IRS by $353 million as part of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act for FY 15:

“I am ecstatic that the House of Representatives supported my efforts today to pass a vitally important amendment which will save hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars and demand accountability from one the federal government's most invasive and rogue agencies—the IRS.

“Just as important as getting our federal spending under control is the fact that this agency has shown contempt for the American taxpayers. It has ignored Congress and ignored subpoenas. It has stonewalled. It has destroyed evidence. It has lied. It has abused its powers and targeted honest Americans for exercising their political beliefs. The list of scandals and examples of mismanagement within the IRS seems to grow every day. This agency, which aggressively pursues American citizens it believes deserve extra scrutiny, must understand that the IRS is first and foremost accountable to the American people, not the other way around.

“Democrats and Republicans all across the country have been demanding Congress ‘do’ something other than hold hearing after hearing about the problems at the IRS. This amendment ‘does’ something that Congress has complete power to do—it uses the power of the purse. My amendment simply brings IRS funding to 2007 levels. The IRS must prove that it can be trusted with the hard earned tax dollars of the American people before it asks Congress to increase its budget.”

Background:

Congressman Gosar’s amendment reduces overall appropriations for the Internal Revenue Service by approximately 3% and brings funding for the IRS down to the FY 2007 appropriations. Current funding for the IRS in the bill is already between 2007-2008 levels. 

 ###