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Both in bed with IRS
- McDermott, Smith run with "skunks"
- (April, 1999)---We came right out recently and said U.S. Rep. Jim Mc Dermott (D-Seattle) is an unrepentant skunk because he voted in 1997 against overhauling the Internal Revenue Service.
- But he's not the only U.S. Rep. From WA to do so, according to an updated Operation Vote Smart report.
- Linda Smith (R-Vancouver) also voted against the overhaul measure which served to curb excesses of the 800-pound gorilla, if not destroy it. This "D" in "R" clothing is all the more disappointing because she, too, apparently liked the IRS just is it is--or was.
- These two Washington State delegates were joined by seven other Democrats in voting to let the IRS run over Americans with little fear of retaliation.
- Other pols who deserve to lose their seats for their pro-IRS vote include Vic Fazio, Robert Matsui and Marty Martinez, all of California; Sidney Yates, Illinois; Barny Frank, Massachusetts, and Martin Sabo, Minnesota.
- All the above democrats and one republican voted against HR 2676, the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1997.
- The new law (even signed by Bill Clinton!):
- Establishes an independent Oversight Board comprised of 11 members, 8 of whom are private citizens
- Shifts the burden of proof from the taxpayer to the IRS during tax court proceedings
- States that at least 80 percent of all tax returns should be filed electronically by 2007
- Extends confidentiality protections to accountants and tax preparers
- Prohibits members of the executive branch from tampering with IRS audits.
- The bill also allows taxpayers to:
- Recover legal fees in cases where the IRS's demand of payment was not substantially justified
- Sue the IRS in cases where the IRS acted negligently
- Avoid payment of tax penalties where an ex-spouse was at fault, among other provisions.
- The bill was introduced by Rep. Bill Archer, R-TX, and passed overwhelmingly on Nov. 5, 1997.
- Jim McDermott voted against it, presumably because he likes the IRS and all it has been able to do to people, even after the litany of IRS horror stories recounted by citizens on Capitol Hill.
We'll say it again--Jim McDermott is a skunk. Now all the skunks and one skunkette have been uncovered.
- Their pro-IRS votes were votes against hardworking, government-harried Americans. We suggest our readers click on Operation Vote Smart and learn how to use this resource well before upcoming elections. It's under the "Information and Links" section of Yakima Valley News' Page 15.
- --LA