During lunch at the North Jackson Rotary Club last Tuesday, State Auditor Shad White talked of his agency’s efforts to catch people who steal taxpayers’ money, a la Nancy New and the TANF scandal.
He also emphasized an initiative to stop people from cheating on Medicaid. White said he had talked the Republican controlled legislature into giving his agents access to personal income tax returns. That allowed them to compare income reported on Medicaid applications to income reported on tax returns. He said they identified a number of cheaters who lied about income to Medicaid. “You don’t want to lie on your tax returns,” he said.
Hours later newly re-elected Congressman Michael Guest told those gathered at his victory celebration what he expects a Republican takeover of the House of Representatives to accomplish.
“The first thing we’re going to do is vote to defund the 87,000 IRS agents that were recently passed in the Democratic legislation,” he said as reported in the Clarion-Ledger. “We believe that those IRS agents, that the Democrats are seeking to unleash them on all the hardworking Americans.”
Apparently, Guest and other Republicans don’t want to aggressively catch people who cheat on their federal tax returns.
Hmmm.
Lying about income on Medicaid applications and lying about income on federal tax returns are both felonies. Strange to see one Republican official working assertively to catch cheaters while another is working assertively to avoid catching cheaters. Also strange to see a former District Attorney take such a soft position on law-and-order.
A lot more can be unpacked from this.
One plays politics on the issue – Guest had a tough primary and, apparently, sees the need to appeal more to the Tea Party majority in the GOP base.
The other does not – White has gone after cheaters whatever their party affiliation and, apparently, sees no place for fraud and corruption in government.
A great many Republican voters in Mississippi see taxes as a form of government evil. So, politicians can cater to those feelings by limiting the capacity of the IRS to audit returns and catch cheaters.
A great many Republican voters in Mississippi see Medicaid as form of evil socialism. So, politicians can cater to those feelings by expanding the capacity to catch those who cheat Medicaid.
Still and all, cheaters are cheaters and White’s desire to catch them is the honest approach.
The juxtaposition of these two conflicting approaches to cheaters on the same day as the nation’s favorite cheater, former President Donald Trump, lost some of his clout was truly ironic. After a good number of Trump’s chosen candidates outside of Mississippi lost or barely won, several Republicans proclaimed these results would loosen Trump’s leash on the party.
Maybe more Republicans at all levels of government can now stand up publicly for honesty.
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” – Proverbs 11:3.
Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.
22 comments:
No Crawford, 87,000 additional IRS employees is nothing but more weaponizing of federal agencies to be used as political tools of the left.
Count me as being in total support of catching tax cheaters at all levels of government and also being totally opposed to hiring 85,000 more government bureaucrats in a department already known to abuse people's constitutional rights.
It’s official. Bill Crawford is dumb and doesn’t have the brain capacity to understand simple or complex issues. Who gave this clown a column?
The first two comments show how little either understands about how many IRS personnel would be needed to catch any "cheaters".
Your boy gutted the agency so cheating would be easier not harder.
And, duh, if you are the politicians who write tax law, the least you can do is understand it well enough to avoid committing fraud!
They're only tough on crime when it serves their interests, and doesn't threaten their votes or pocketbooks.
Hiring more IRS agents will simply cause the price of 9mm ammunition to skyrocket again! Why? Because the IRS will simply purchase and stockpile another 80 million rounds of ammunition in anticipation of arming every IRS agent in the future!
I would like to see more about insider trading by politicians. Insider trading is an extra benefit given to politicians. It is hard to explain how a politician can go into office owing people money and become a millionaire in a few short years.
I wouldn’t refer to these people as cheaters, they are THIEVES, Just like those who stole homeowners dues.
I don't know why I continue to read Crawfords's column. Every time I read his ignorance, I lose I.Q. points, and I'm the last person on the planet that had any to spare.
KF continuing to help his boy Shad keep Nancy New the face of the TANF scandal. Can’t wait to see what happens when Phil is indicted and rats on Shad. Whose water will you tote then, KF?
Why in the world would IRS agents need to be armed? Do they currently carry weapons?
Depty Pheel rat on Shadrack? Now that would be entertaining.
Most of the new IRS employees would be answering the phone from their homes.
Only 9% of the phone calls to the agency are answered.
And the new agents can't examine a couple making less than $400,000 (which is only 1% of Mississippi -- 1500 households)
For once, I totally agree with Crawford. Take a hike, Republicans. Get rid of Trump and start fresh with actual written policies so we can discern what you are trying to accomplish. I might actually vote for a Republican candidate again if you do that.
Despite beaucoup data to the contrary, presented by JJ and others, Shad White is not in charge of investigating Phil Bryant, the feds are.
Bill Crawford,
Not really. Most people just pay the IRS because they got a bill. The never fight back because they do not owe it.
MG
@5:55 PM
That was the same question that people were asking when the story leaked that the IRS bought nearly 100 million of rounds of 9mm between 2014-2021!
Democrats conflate 'evading' with 'avoiding' taxes because many of them are communists who also conflate 'democracy' with 'representative republic' because these America hating radicals are eager to implement marxist fascism, which, among other autocratic tools, requires elimination of individual liberty, tradional family values, state control of elections, private property, free enterprise, prosperity as a reward for achievement and other hallmarks of freedom enshrined by our Founders.
@8:51 - Evidence now confirms that Bryant should have been included in this case from Day 1. Shad appears to have covered for him to some degree. Reporters have exposed text messages and emails alike that incriminate Phil. One would think that a thorough investigation by the Auditor’s office would have revealed those same emails and texts. Yet, Shad wants us to believe Phil was the whistleblower. Shad wants us all to forget about the early events of this case. He’s never been asked and forced to answer the question: Did you know the depth of Phil Bryant’s involvement when the first arrests were made?
Yes, Phil is the Feds concern now. But, Shad has some explaining to do at some point.
They need to hire more employees to answer the phone and respond to the mail. "We're sorry, but due to the call volume of the topic you are interested in, we are unable to take your call right now, try again later or the next business day - Click" is the only thing we hear when we call them. They need more call takers, not agents and special agents with guns.
10:58am
All preceeding evidence,testimony and some plea deal info can mount a strong case against Phil Bryant, so be patient while feds develop their case. In the meantime, White has to keep what he knows on the QT per pecking order mandates, so it is indelicate of you to imply he is 'protecting the former governor.
The biggest fish is eaten last in these investigations, aye.
Don't care to read Salter or Crawford's articles! They think they are smartest person in the room. They are when they are in room alone
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