Health Law Implementation Puts Strain On Already Diminished IRS Resources
Republicans, however, told IRS Commissioner John Koskinen at a hearing that his agency should be using his funds more efficiently. Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, Democrats are calling for more funding to fight the opioid addiction crisis, but are running up against Republican resistance.
The San Francisco Business Times:
What IRS Budget Crunch Means For Audits And Obamacare Enforcement
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen tried to make a business case to Congress Thursday as to why it should increase the Internal Revenue Service’s budget after six years of funding cuts. The agency is operating with $900 million less than it had six years ago, but it’s been given additional tasks, such as enforcing the Affordable Care Act’s tax penalties against individuals who don’t buy health insurance. This budget squeeze has forced it to cut back on its tax enforcement activities, such as audits, Koskinen said. This is costing the government $5 billion a year in uncollected revenue. (Hoover, 2/11)
The Associated Press:
Dems Seek Drug Abuse Funds As Election-Year Issue Sharpens
Congressional Democrats called Thursday for hundreds of millions in emergency spending to fight drug abuse but ran into Republican resistance as another health issue spiraled into an election-year showdown. With the calendar edging deeper into the campaign season, the latest dispute echoes other clashes over whether the federal government should use more taxpayer dollars to contain the Zika virus and help Flint, Michigan, recover from a public health crisis in which its water system has been contaminated with lead. (2/11)