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Measure gives gov’t the ability to fire federal employees who refuse to pay taxes

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today voted to give the federal government the ability to fire federal employees who refuse to pay their income taxes.  The vote is the latest in House Republicans’ YouCut program, which aims to cut spending and reduce the national deficit.  Nearly 100,000 active federal employees owe $962 million in unpaid taxes, according to the IRS.

“This proposal could save up to a billion dollars,” Foxx said. “While most federal workers are paying their taxes and abiding by the law, there are some who enjoy taxpayer funded jobs and refuse to pay their fair share. This must stop.”

Under current law, the IRS is the only federal agency that can fire employees who do not pay their taxes. Under this proposal, which is cosponsored by Foxx, other federal agencies would be able do the same.

The proposal, H.R. 4735, allows federal agencies to fire employees who are seriously delinquent tax-dodgers.  It applies to those federal workers who are serial offenders and refuse to pay their taxes.  Federal employees who may be slightly behind on their taxes or are working with the IRS to pay their tax bills will not be affected.

“Prevention is the best medicine,” Foxx said.  “This proposal prevents future tax cheating by halting the practice of allowing tax-dodging federal employees to duck and cover.  During these times of record deficits we must ensure that unscrupulous federal workers aren’t cheating the very taxpayers who pay their salaries.”