Sessions: We Need to Stop Rewarding IRS Employees for Irresponsible Behavior

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), chairman of the House Rules Committee, today issued the following statement after voting in favor of two measures that would ensure that the IRS provides Americans with competent service and prevents them from rehiring delinquent employees:

“Throughout my 16 years in the private sector and my years serving as a Congressman, I have followed this cardinal rule: the customer always comes first. However, for the IRS providing the American taxpayer with quality, efficient service is at the bottom of their priority list. Last year, the IRS’ level of responsivity was the lowest in years, with only 38 percent of individuals wanting to speak to an IRS representative being able to reach one. Even though their customer service is less than mediocre, in 2015 IRS employees received $60 million in bonuses. I firmly believe that these employees should not be rewarded for failing to provide taxpayers with the service they deserve.  That is why I voted to ban IRS employees from receiving any bonuses until they develop and implement a comprehensive customer service strategy.

“In addition to ensuring the IRS provides taxpayers with the service they deserve, I also voted to prohibit them from rehiring individuals who were fired for misconduct. The IRS has rehired more than 100 former employees who failed to pay their own tax bills, in addition to rehiring other individuals who falsified official forms and accessed sensitive taxpayer information without authorization. This is an unacceptable abuse of power and yet another example of the IRS’ irresponsible behavior.  I proudly took a stand with my House colleagues in supporting these two critical pieces of legislation to rein the IRS, ensure taxpayers have access to competent service, and stop their reckless practices.”

For more information on H.R 4890, To impose a ban on the payment of bonuses to employees of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary of the Treasury develops and implements a comprehensive customer service strategy, click here. For more information on H.R. 3724, Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act, click here.

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Created:
Apr 21, 2016