Bills aim for accountability, transparency within IRS

Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) backed a number of bills on Tuesday that are intended to make the IRS more accountable to taxpayers and provide more transparency within the agency.

“As individuals, families and businesses calculate how much money they are sending to the IRS, Congress must do its part to try and straighten this agency out,” Crenshaw said. “The IRS must be held accountable for its operations and use taxpayer dollars effectively. That’s the bottom line. Over the past year, we have witnessed the IRS abuse its authority by singling out taxpayers based on political belief, not to mention spending millions of dollars on lavish conferences. Neither has a place in our society in this day and age.”

Crenshaw, the chairman of the House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, backed measures that would require the IRS to disclose when individuals’ tax information is shared with another agency, prevent the IRS from inquiring about taxpayers’ personal beliefs and stop finalization of propsed rules that single out conservative 501c4 groups.

“Following a series of hearings in 2013 before the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, tough recommendations were made to correct this behavior, but Congress can and should do more,” Crenshaw said. “…I support the additional, common-sense measures that are on the House floor this week. They will provide citizens with the security, transparency and accountability from the IRS. I hope they earn the full support they deserve and quickly pass the House.”

Crenshaw also threw his support behind bills that would require the federal government to report on the cost and performance of agencies annually and force the executive branch to disclose when advertisements are paid for with taxpayer dollars.