Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speaks throughout a Senate Finance Committee nomination listening to on Feb. 23, 2021.
Greg Nash | Pool | Reuters
The Senate Finance Committee this week voted to advance Daniel Werfel’s nomination to turn out to be IRS commissioner amid fierce debate over the company’s $80 billion in new funding.
Following a affirmation listening to on Feb. 15, the bipartisan committee vote was the ultimate step earlier than a full Senate vote on affirmation.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., mentioned Werfel’s February testimony demonstrated he is a “rule follower” who will work with “either side of the committee.”
“He will undergo, I consider, in a matter of weeks,” mentioned Mark Everson, a former IRS commissioner and present vice chairman at Alliantgroup, noting there may be assist from either side of the aisle.
“There’s an excessive amount of rivalry concerning the correct function of the IRS and tax administration when it comes to its function on wealth distribution and a number of different points,” he mentioned. “However there’s settlement that you just want a reliable, accountable commissioner operating this very important organ of presidency — and Danny Werfel is that individual.”
Previous to Werfel’s function at Boston Consulting Group, he served former President George W. Bush as performing controller of the Workplace of Administration and Funds. Below former President Barack Obama, he turn out to be everlasting OMB controller, and later served as performing IRS commissioner.
Oversight of IRS funding is a precedence for Republicans
The Senate Finance Committee vote comes amid continued scrutiny of the $80 billion in IRS funding allotted in August by way of the Inflation Discount Act.
After months of disapproval, Home Republicans in January voted to rescind the funding. However with out assist from the Democrat-controlled Senate or the White Home, the invoice was largely seen as political messaging.
And a gaggle of Home Republicans in January revisited the Truthful Tax Act, which aimed to switch sure federal levies with a nationwide gross sales tax and to decentralize the IRS. However coverage specialists say the honest tax has by no means been a mainstream thought.
In February, the Republican-led Home Methods and Means Committee introduced oversight priorities, with the $80 billion IRS funding “on the high of the record,” in line with Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo.
In the meantime, the IRS missed the six-month deadline to submit a plan for the funding on Feb. 17, as requested by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in August. Her priorities targeted on taxpayer service, reminiscent of clearing the backlog of unprocessed tax returns, boosting customer support, overhauling know-how and hiring staff.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, on Thursday spoke concerning the missed deadline throughout his opening assertion, noting it is “not inspiring in terms of regaining the arrogance of the American folks.”
Nonetheless, Everson believes the delay is an intentional alternative from the company.
“It will solely muddy the waters as a result of it could probably give rise to a different spherical of questions for the nominee,” he mentioned.
