Efforts to Reform the IRS Should Not Leave the Door Open to Further Abuse

Apr 18, 2018 by AFP

Arlington, VA. – Today, the House of Representatives will vote on a pair of bills, H.R. 5444 and H.R. 5445, aimed at reforming the IRS. While the reforms are a step in the right direction, failing to include legislation from Rep. Peter Roskam, the Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act, H.R. 4916, would be a missed opportunity to protect taxpayers from further potential abuse and misuse of their personal information.

In a letter, Americans for Prosperity Chief Government Affairs Officer Brent Gardner urged Representatives to take up the “Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act” in this year’s package:

“I write today on behalf of millions of Americans for Prosperity activists in all 50 states as you consider a pair of bills, H.R. 5444 and H.R. 5445, which will institute reforms at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). While these reforms are a step in the right direction, this week’s reform package will be a missed opportunity if it does not also include legislation from Rep. Peter Roskam, the Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act, H.R. 4916.”

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“Americans throughout the country, including our AFP activists, have witnessed in recent years how the IRS has used and abused personal information of contributors in ways that are dangerous to free speech and democracy. H.R. 4916 would prevent these abuses, protect the rights and privacy of everyday Americans, and guard against bureaucratic overreach.”

“This week, the House of Representatives aims to refocus the IRS to be more responsive to their customers and to provide increased cybersecurity measures to protect the sensitive information they collect. These steps, while admirable, will be incomplete without the inclusion of legislation like H.R. 4916. Without prohibiting the IRS collection of personal donor information, which has already led to targeting by states Attorneys General, Members of Congress leave the door open to further misuse and abuse in the future.”

Click here to read the full letter.

For further information or to set up an interview, please send an email to media@afphq.org.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) exists to recruit, educate, and mobilize citizens in support of the policies and goals of a free society at the local, state, and federal level, helping every American live their dream – especially the least fortunate. AFP has more than 3.2 million activists across the nation, a local infrastructure that includes 36 state chapters, and has received financial support from more than 100,000 Americans in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

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