Double check information
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Editor,
The season is upon us, and misinformation campaigns are stepping up. As voters, we should check the facts with a variety of reliable sources and take it to heart when people who are asking for our votes lie to us.
The popular Inflation Reduction Act has triggered lies from high places:
Misinformation:
- Fox News host, Brian Kilmeade, has suggested that IRS agents carry firearms, “a little like James Bond, but instead of hunting down evil maniacs, these agents hunt down and kill middle class taxpayers that don’t pay enough? It’s Joe Biden’s new army.”
- House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, tweeted, “Do you make $75,000 or less? Democrats’ new army of 87,000 IRS agents will be coming for you.”
- Our own Senator Daines twittered, “Senate Democrats want to spend tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to supersize the IRS with 87,000 agents to target small businesses and mom-and-pop shops.”
Facts:
- The IRS does have some Criminal Investigation Agents who are armed, but the vast majority of IRS agents have no need of firearms. Those of us who are not criminals have nothing to worry about.
The Congressional Budget Office thoroughly reviewed the Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions to increase IRS agents, and reported, “The proposal … would return audit rates to the levels of about 10 years ago; the rate would rise for all taxpayers, but higher-income taxpayers would face the largest increase. In addition, the Administration’s policies would focus additional IRS resources on enforcement activity aimed at high-wealth taxpayers, large corporations, and partnerships.” (Full report available at: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57444)
Just the facts, ma’am.
Gail Trenfield
St. Ignatius
