Xavier Becerra, California Democrat, calls IRS, paying taxes a ‘voluntary system,’ Steve Miller says ‘agreed’
The House Ways and Means Committee holds the first Congressional hearing on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) subjecting applicants for tax-exempt status to higher levels of scrutiny based on political leanings.
Witnesses include Acting IRS Commissioner Steve Miller who resigned on Wednesday and the Treasury Department’s Inspector General Russell George for Tax Administration.
Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) said the IRS’ targeting of “American taxpayers based on politics is both astounding and appalling.” He stated that the Committee will “get to the bottom of this practice and ensure it never takes place again.”
In announcing the hearing, Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) said that it is “essential that there be a thorough and bipartisan investigation and effective remedial action.
Xavier Becerra (D-CA) may have made a shocking statement, discussing the need to keep confidence in the system, saying “… because it’s a voluntary system … of payment of our taxes.”
Stephen Miller (IRS commissioner, resigned): “Agreed.”
Since June 2011, the Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating whether the Internal Revenue Service discriminated against taxpayers based on political opinions.
UPDATE: The post originally indicated Rep. Nunes was a Democrat and the Rep that made this statement, but he is a Republican from California’s 22nd district and it Rep Becerra who called the tax system “voluntary”
The C SPAN is now availabe:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/ServiceTar
Photo/donkeyhotey donkeyhotey.wordpress.com
good luck in court with the whole “voluntary” argument
“America Freedom to Fascism” by the late great Aaron Russo. If you haven’t seen it. It will blown you mind.
This post has been corrected to reflect Nunes is a Republican – thanks Steve
so taxes are voluntary. why then am i FORCED to pay them and will go to jail if i fail to do so.
You need to check your facts. Congressman Nunes is a conservative Republican. I know because I live in his district. He would be offended if you called him a Democrat. As for his point, I agree. Our taxes are not taken from us by soldiers or men in suits coming to our door. We, as a mature members of society, fill out the forms and send the tax money in voluntarily.
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