‘More power to taxpayers, less power to the IRS’
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. — “These bills have a simple goal – more power to taxpayers, less power for government agencies like the IRS,” said Texas Cong. Kevin Brady, chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, after the House of Representatives passed six bills Tuesday evening to give taxpayers stronger rights when dealing with government agencies like the IRS. One of the measures protects consumers from prosecution for unlocking their cell phones and other wireless devices.
“American families and businesses deserve better than a government that stifles their voices, wastes their tax dollars and abuses their constitutional rights. Enough is enough,” said Brady, who is helping lead the Congressional Investigation of the IRS targeting conservative groups as Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee.
Included are measures:
Prohibiting the IRS from asking taxpayers inappropriate questions or dragging out audits past one year by Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL).- The Taxpayers Right-to-Know Act by Rep. James Lankford (R-OK) requires every federal agency to provide taxpayers with an annual report card for each of its programs, including total administrative costs and staff, and the number of people who benefit from each program.
- A bill sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) amending the Freedom of Information Act to eliminate loopholes that allow federal agencies to avoid compliance.
- Another bill by Issa streamlines federal IT programs to stop wasting taxpayer money.
- And Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) legislation to allow cell phone owners to legally “unlock” their phone so that they can use it on another network once they’ve satisfied their contract with their current provider.
“These common-sense bills will hold federal agencies more accountable when it comes to how they use tax dollars and how they treat taxpayers, Brady said.
