Congressman Trey Gowdy fought back tears at the the House Oversight Committee hearing, today on IRS’s lavish spending practices. He was describing the lamentable conditions in the SC solicitor’s office in 2010 when the state faced a budget crunch that forced many employees to go on unpaid furloughs. Gowdy had reportedly funneled part of his campaign account into the solicitor’s budget so his staff could keep working.
“This is not a training issue,” Gowdy told George, adding that it can’t be fixed by another training session. “It strikes me as a cultural systemic, character, moral issue.”
The reason for that, Gowdy implied, is that while IRS agents were staying in lavish rooms and paying keynote speakers $17,000, some government workers — including law enforcement officers and teachers — across the country were being furloughed.
Gowdy’s voice cracked when he told the story of one of his secretaries, who came into his office after hours to borrow some money.
“She kept apologizing for having to do it. She kept saying, ‘I’ll pay you back. I’ll pay you back.’ And at exactly the same time that young government employee, single mom was borrowing money for a child’s birthday present, other government employees were staying in $3,500 a night rooms. Other government employees were spending more money on promotional materials than that young women makes in a year.”
“They sent more than 25 employees on a scouting trip to see if the hotel was okay,” he continued, his voice dripping with disgust. “That’s not going to be fixed with training, Mr. Inspector General.”
“It just strikes me that we only need one, single recommendation – START OVER.”
Hat tip: Gateway Pundit who thinks Gowdy should run for Lindsey Graham’s seat. Either that or skip that step and go for the brass ring in 2016.
Nice Deb 
This is a great post. Everyone should be this upset over what the IRS is doing.
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History is made by Great Men and Women, Trey Gowdy strikes me–every time I see him or hear him–as one such Great Individual.
And in a less serious tone: Trey Gowdy RULES!
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It’s unfortunate that it took the current mess for people in general to wake up to the fact that the IRS is out of control. It has been for decades.
But the fault is not all to the IRS. The Congresses for decades have simply passed sweeping generalities and told the IRS, “OK, now the rest is up to you” and let them make whatever rules they wanted to (not necessarily the ones that were “right” or “fair” or what Congress had intended). That alone is reason enough to demand that Congresspeople be term-limited, because after a few years in office they become so comfortable with the perks of office they forget about the work they’re supposed to be doing. The current IRS scandals are simply a result of Congress abdicating its own responsibilities.
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If the current situation doesn’t provide enough fodder to stop the IRS control of every Americans Medical information, nothing will. If this doesn’t also give the best argument for a “Flat/Fair Tax”, I don’t know what will. This is a National Debate that needs to be had, before they acquire any additional power. They are a agency way past due for a overhaul from top to bottom.
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