"IT'S THE FOX DESIGNING THE HENHOUSE"

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_03/010883.php

"IT'S THE FOX DESIGNING THE HENHOUSE"....David Cay Johnston reports today that the IRS is outsourcing its writing of tax rules to the very lawyers and accountants who create tax shelters and exploit loopholes for the superrich:

John D. Graham, the official appointed by President Bush to streamline the federal rule-making process and give private interests a greater voice, said even he was surprised by the I.R.S. plan.

"Whoever's pen the first draft comes out of has a big advantage," said Dr. Graham, who ran the Office of Regulatory and Information Affairs for the White House before becoming dean last week of the graduate school at RAND, the nonprofit research organization.

....A single word, sometimes one letter, can change the meaning of a rule: "must" or "may"; "and" versus "or"; "could" or "would."

....In recent years there has been a quickening pace of moves to outsource the actual work of regulation, hiring contractors to write the rules. Now the I.R.S. is proposing that outside experts do it at no charge, opening up the possibility that some firms providing the draft would be working on behalf of an individual, business or association seeking to plant a favorable nuance in a rule.

What an outrageous thing to say. I'm sure all these guys are doing this work for free merely out of a sense of pro bono altruism and a desire to make sure our tax rules are clear and consistent. I really don't know where Johnston gets off implying that they might be trying to plant "favorable nuances" that they can later take advantage of.

Anyway, the IRS says this is just a pilot project limited to "technical and noncontroversial issues." So I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. And certainly no reason for the Democratic Congress to restore cuts in IRS staffing so that they can once again write their own rules and audit the rich with the same zeal they audit the working poor. Why, that would be tantamount to class warfare, wouldn't it?

[Joanne98]

1. Oh my God! K&R!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. PP

[madokie]

3. unbelieveable,

well not really it isn't cause these repuklicons do not, repeat, do not have our best interest in mind with anything and everything they do or say. I am so damn sick of them I can't see straight. As I go through my day and as soon as I identify one I have to say something to them too and it's never nice. And this is coming from a person who would rather make someones day as not

thats where the mad in madokie comes from

[napi21]

4. The article didn't say, but I assume it's referring to the tax experts

employed by the Big Publicc Accounting firms. I see you point about the hen house, but I guess I have to also ask, who WOULD you ask to suggest changes? Iwas an accountant for 40+ years, but I am NOT qualified to rewrite the tax laws. It really is such a complicated group oflaws,it's been a "Specialty Field" for a lot of years.

I'm not trying to make excuses for Shrub or the IRS. I'm just asking who would be BETTER but still qualified to suggest tax law changes?

[A Simple Game]

5. I have never been an accountant, I did take a course in it in college.

I'm sure if I read the tax laws I would need someone to interpret them for me.

I can write.
I have written a operations manual for software that was easy to understand.
I have written many procedures for software and manufacturing, that were easy to understand and use.

I have no doubt that I could write an easier to understand and fairer tax code than a tax lawyer could. But then who would need a high priced tax lawyer?

[Miss Chybil]

6. OUR COUNTRY IS TURNING INTO AN F'ING JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! nt

[Atman]

7. "Check's in the mail." "I won't * in your mouth." "The PA won't restrict liberties."

And now "This is just a pilot project limited to 'technical and noncontroversial issues'."

.