Rep. Paul Cook Votes to Reform IRS

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) voted on a series of bills to change how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) conducts business. These commonsense reforms will make the IRS more transparent and accountable to the American taxpayer.

The following bills were passed by the House today:

HR 1058, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act of 2015, would incorporate a taxpayer’s bill of rights into the core responsibilities of the IRS Commissioner. HR 1058 includes rights to quality service, to pay no more than the correct amount of tax, to privacy, and to challenge the position of the IRS.

HR 709, the Prevent Targeting at the IRS Act, would authorize the IRS to terminate employees who target individuals based on their political beliefs. This bill would make political targeting a fireable offense at the IRS.

HR 1104, the Fair Treatment for All Gifts Act, would ensure fair and equal treatment for Americans who donate to tax-exempt organizations by codifying the longstanding practice of exempting these contributions from the gift tax. This bill would shield Americans from even more burdensome taxes and intrusive scrutiny by the IRS.

HR 1152, the IRS Email Transparency Act, would prohibit  employees of the Internal Revenue Service from using personal email accounts to conduct official business.

HR 1562, the Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2015, would prohibit federal agencies from awarding contracts or grants above $150,000 to persons or companies that have seriously delinquent tax debt.

Cook said, “Every year, Tax Day is a reminder that Americans deserve a government that is efficient, effective, and accountable. The IRS fails to deliver on all these fronts. I voted for these reforms today to drive home the message with Washington bureaucrats that the government belongs to the American people and is accountable to the American people.”