Today, Rep. John Carter (R-TX-31) voted to cut funding to the Internal Revenue Service, through passage of the overall FY16 Financial Services Appropriations Bill in the House Appropriations Committee.

“Today my colleagues and I stood up for the American taxpayer, and cut funding to an overreaching IRS,” said Rep. Carter. “What we did today will provide the IRS with the funding to perform its core duties, including taxpayer services, but will require the agency to streamline and better prioritize its budget. Additionally, this legislation will prohibit the IRS from further implementing ObamaCare, and attacking taxpayers based on political beliefs.”

House Republicans cut the IRS budget $2.8 billion below the President’s request, by slashing $838 million off the FY2015 IRS budget, bringing the IRS budget below sequester level and below the FY2004 level.  While decreasing overall funding, the bill does direct increased fund for Taxpayer Services to measurably improve the rate that IRS answers telephone calls and correspondence from taxpayers. 

In addition, due to the IRS’ inappropriate actions in targeting groups based on political beliefs, as well as its previous improper use of taxpayer funds, the bill includes the following provisions:

•             A prohibition on a proposed regulation related to political activities and the tax-exempt status of 501(c)(4) organizations. The proposed regulation could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of many nonprofit organizations and inhibit citizens from exercising their right to freedom of speech, simply because they may be involved in political activity;

•             A prohibition on funds for bonuses or to rehire former employees unless employee conduct and tax compliance is given consideration;

•             A prohibition on funds for the IRS to target groups for regulatory scrutiny based on their ideological beliefs;

•             A prohibition on funds for the IRS to target individuals for exercising their First Amendment rights;

•             A prohibition on funds for the production of inappropriate videos and conferences;

•             A prohibition on funds for the White House to order the IRS to determine the tax-exempt status of an organization; and

•             A requirement for extensive reporting on IRS spending.

In regards to ObamaCare, the bill includes provisions to stop the IRS from further implementing ObamaCare, including a prohibition on any transfers of funding from the Department of Health and Human Services to the IRS for ObamaCare uses, and a prohibition on funding for the IRS to implement an individual insurance mandate on the American people.

The bill was approved by the committee on a vote of 30-20

For a summary of the bill, please visit: http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394251

For the text of the bill, please visit:

http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-114hr-sc-ap-fy2016-fservices-subcommitteedraft.pdf

For the bill report, please visit:

http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hrpt-114-hr-fy2016-fservices.pdf