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The American people are entitled to a government that is responsive, transparent, and accountable for its actions.
Protecting Taxpayers from IRS Abuse The Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) targeting of conservative-leaning organizations is an outrageous abuse of power and undermines the public trust. No administration is above the law; we must ensure full public accountability and guarantee that American taxpayers are never the targets of their own government. To this end, I have cosponsored the Taxpayer Nondiscrimination and Protection Act (H.R. 1950), which would allow the federal government to impose a fine, up to five years imprisonment, or both for an IRS employee engaging in such discrimination. The legislation further reaffirms that political speech and political expression are rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. Investigating Solyndra Congress must live up to its constitutional responsibility to ensure the federal government is accountable to the American people. I led the House’s 18-month investigation of Solyndra, the now-bankrupt California solar company that was the recipient of a $535 million loan guarantee. Our committee’s investigation revealed time and again that the Obama administration ignored the warnings from outside and administration experts, but doubled down with the taxpayers’ money anyway. To ensure that such mismanagement of taxpayer dollars never happens again, I have coauthored the “No More Solyndras Act” which phases out the failed program and puts new provisions in place to ensure greater White House transparency. Upholding Our Constitution The size and scope of government has grown far beyond what our Founding Fathers could ever have imagined. To ensure Congress adheres to the Constitution, House Republicans require all legislation to cite its Constitutional authority. Restoring Transparency and Public Debate Legislation must be available at least three days before it is voted upon, allowing the public and Members of Congress the opportunity to read and understand the bill. House Republicans have also restored open debate and a transparent process of offering amendments on the House Floor. |
