A op ed piece from Congressman Peter Roskam published first in Roll Call:
IRS Scandal Silver Lining: Tax Reform Momentum
As details emerge of the IRS targeting groups for how they view the world, not how they comply with the tax code, many wonder if anything can be accomplished in this escalating culture of distrust. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the scandal highlights the urgent need to reform the IRS by simplifying the tax code.
Peter Roskam
Taxpayers can’t help but fear as they submit their forms that they’ve left themselves vulnerable to an audit.
Even before details of the IRS scandal came out, there was an overwhelming feeling of anxiety and mistrust about the massive amount of power the IRS holds.
Now, calling for IRS reform is a popular part of the public conversation. Republicans and Democrats alike are on the record as strong advocates of change, denouncing the agency’s actions as “unthinkable” and “an outrageous abuse of power.”
It’s brought the pressing flaws in the tax code front and center.
And Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp is prepared for this rush of support.
After taking the gavel in the 112th Congress, Camp made the case for updating our tax code.
He knew it would be a laborious, complex process but said the one way to assure that tax reform does not happen is to not do the work.
So, Camp and those of us on the Ways and Means Committee have been doing the work.
The committee has held 20 hearings on how to rebuild the tax code.
In bipartisan working groups, we discuss how to make the tax code simpler for small businesses and individuals, how to create growth through leveling the international taxation playing field and how to ease the compliance burden to make America more competitive globally.
Under Camp’s leadership, we have produced numerous drafts on many aspects of our tax code. We’ve laid the groundwork that will take this newfound momentum surrounding the government’s breach of trust and move forward to create a new tax code that is fair for all Americans.
The IRS’ overreach is disturbing and we must never let it happen again. Simply put, you can’t reform the IRS without reforming the tax code.
Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., is chief deputy majority whip and a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
The 501c law originally stated groups who apply must be for social welfare.
In 1959 the IRS changed it on their own without any legislation and put the word primarily in it.
Groups of both sides should be denied this tax break.
Take all the tax breaks away from everyone including businesses.
Liberals don’t want to support wars, conservatives don’t want to support social programs so eliminate ALL deductions for Everyone.
Tax breaks benefit those that actually pay taxes.
The top ten ‘tax breaks’ benefit the top 20% who are paying 94% of all Fed Income Tax.
Let’s see Roskam and his pals fix this little inequity.
But this little scribe reads like the end of an Indiana Jones movie. They have ‘top men’ working on it.