The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“IRS LESSONS FROM THE INS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1972 on Oct. 8, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IRS LESSONS FROM THE INS
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HON. ELTON GALLEGLY
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, October 8, 1997
Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, like millions of Americans around the country, I am still reeling from the Internal Revenue Service hearings a few weeks ago. Not all that was brought to light was very surprising. Anyone who has ever had to deal with the IRS knows just getting a phone call answered is comparable to climbing K-2.
But when confirmation of the agency's abusive practices and mismanagement turned to outright disregard for the law, I was not only outraged, but began to see striking similarities with another very political Federal agency, the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
In 1996, the Department of Justice Inspector General's Office found that high ranking INS officials had lied to Congress, instructed others to do the same and obstructed the subsequent investigation. The events leading to the investigation occurred during a congressional fact finding visit to the Krome Detention Facility in Miami.
Several individuals were eventually disciplined, however some received promotions during the investigation. And while the disciplinary recommendations from the inspector general ranged from demotion and suspension to termination, to date, almost all have been reinstated or reassigned and not one was terminated.
Mr. Speaker, the IRS hearings and the Krome case illustrate a disturbing pattern for this administration. Wrong doing is not only tolerated but encouraged and rewarded. The IRS now has the opportunity to do the right thing. Learn from the errors of another agency, put politics aside, identify those responsible and administer the fair hand of justice. This is a simple first step in restoring the confidence of the American people in their government.
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