Yoho Votes To Rein In IRS And Obamacare

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL-03) voted in favor of H.R. 5016 - Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2015. The bill passed the house by a vote of 228 -195.  In addition to stopping the IRS from further implementing Obamacare, the bill will rein in the IRS, help American small businesses create jobs, and streamline the Federal Government. Congressman Yoho provided the following statement after his vote:

“Today’s Financial Services bill stops the IRS from implementing Obamacare, prohibits funds for the IRS to enforce the individual mandate, and prohibits transfers of funds from Health and Human Services to the IRS for Obamacare. It also prohibits the IRS from targeting individuals based on their political beliefs, cuts funding to the IRS by $341 million dollars, and prohibits funding for the Executive Office of the President to prepare signing statements and Executive Orders that contradict existing law. This Administration has used the IRS as a weapon against citizens who disagree with him politically and he’s used Executive Orders as a weapon against a Congress that disagrees with him legislatively. This bill takes away his ability to do both.”

Details of bill:

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – Included in the bill is $10.95 billion for the IRS – a cut of $341 million below the fiscal year 2014 enacted level and $1.5 billion below the President’s budget request. This will bring the agency’s budget below the sequester level and below the level that was in place in fiscal year 2008. This funding level is sufficient for the IRS to perform its core duties, including taxpayer services and the proper collection of funds, but will require the agency to streamline and make better use of its budget.

In addition, due to the inappropriate actions by the IRS in targeting groups that hold certain political beliefs, as well as its previous improper use of taxpayer funds, the bill includes the following provisions:

• A prohibition on a proposed regulation related to political activities and the tax-exempt status of 501(c)(4) organizations. The proposed regulation could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of many non-profit organizations and inhibit citizens from exercising their right to freedom of speech, simply because they may be involved in political activity.
• A prohibition on funds for bonuses or awards unless employee conduct and tax compliance is given consideration.
• A prohibition on funds for the IRS to target groups for regulatory scrutiny based on their ideological beliefs.
• A prohibition on funds for the IRS to target individuals for exercising their First Amendment rights.
• A prohibition on funding for the production of inappropriate videos and conferences.
• A prohibition on funding for the White House to order the IRS to determine the tax-exempt status of an organization.
• A requirement for extensive reporting on IRS spending.

ObamaCare –The bill also includes provisions to stop the IRS from further implementing ObamaCare, including a prohibition on any transfers of funding from the Department of Health and Human Services to the IRS for ObamaCare uses, and a prohibition on funding for the IRS to implement an individual insurance mandate on the American people.

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Congressman Ted Yoho serves on the Foreign Affairs and Agriculture Committees. He represents North Florida’s 3rd Congressional District