Cracking down on federal scofflaws

http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/07/cracking-down-on-federal-scofflaws-130710.html?hp=l8

A bill that calls for the termination of federal employees who owe the government a significant amount in taxes passed the House in a 263-114 vote Tuesday evening.

Fifty-nine Democrats joined 204 Republicans in voting for the Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act under a suspension of rules, which means a two-thirds majority was required. Fifty-four congressmen did not vote.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) sponsored the legislation after a 2009 IRS report found that a combined total of more than $1.5 billion in overdue taxes was owed by 184,000 federal employees. Chaffetz said the bill was necessary to make sure that employees who were receiving their salaries from taxpayers were not getting out of paying their taxes.

The bill only applies to federal employees who show a “seriously delinquent tax debt,” or, in other words, have received a notice of lien from the IRS. According to the legislation, the Office of Personnel Management will ensure that federal employees have due process and are not wrongly terminated. Employees will also have period of 180 days to show that they are paying off their debt to keep their jobs.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has authored a similar measure in the Senate.

Many Democrats have said it unnecessarily targets federal employees.

The bill only applies to federal employees who show a “seriously delinquent tax debt,” or, in other words, have received a notice of lien from the IRS. According to the legislation, the Office of Personnel Management will ensure that federal employees have due process and are not wrongly terminated. Employees will also have period of 180 days to show that they are paying off their debt to keep their jobs.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) has authored a similar measure in the Senate.

Many Democrats have said it unnecessarily targets federal employees.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said on the floor before the vote that the measure would be “largely symbolic” because 96 percent of federal employees pay their taxes.