Washington Report: Representative Noem

Washington Report: Real, Genuine

Accountability

ByRep.KristiNoem

Trustingovernmentisatan all-time low – and who could blame folks? Fraud, mismanagement, and abuse are rampant within government agencies. Taxpayer dollars are too often misspent by bureaucrats. And many people aren’t given basic courtesies when they interact with some federal employees. We need accountability in government – and I mean real, genuine accountability.

Afewweeksago,afterspeakingtotheWatertownRotary,a local radio commentator summarized my remarks like this: “If you don’t like the IRS, it probably doesn’t compare to Rep.KristiNoem’sdisgustwiththeagency. ”It’strue–and the agency ’s lack of accountability has a lot to do with that disgust. This should be a “service first” agency, but customerserviceattheIRSisappalling.During2015,only 38 percent of callers could reach an IRS representative. Meanwhile, they targeted conservative groups and wasted millions of dollars on conferences and “Star Trek” parody videos.

ThroughtheHouse,we’ vepassedlegislationtopreventthe IRS from targeting taxpayers for political gain. We’ ve passed a Taxpayer Bill of Rights. And we’ ve passed legislation I wrote to stop the IRS from rehiring employees whohavealreadybeenfiredformisconduct.Unfortunately, Senate Democrats and President Obama blocked much of thisagendafrommovingforward.

Thankfully, we turned a new leaf with President Trump’s election. Alongside the previously mentioned reforms, one ofthebestwaystoholdtheIRSaccountableisbydrastically reducingitsrole.Bysimplifyingthetaxcode,we’rehopeful mostAmericans’taxreturnscouldfitonapostcardoncetax reform goes through. That leaves little room for the IRS to takeadvantageofhardworkingSouthDakotans.

ButIhaveaproblemwithfederalagenciesbeyondtheIRS too.Today,awantedfeloncanevadeprosecutionformonths – even years – and yet somehow still receive a check from theSocialSecurityAdministrationevery30daysorso.Let’s beclear:taxpayersshouldn’tbeaskedtomakepaymentsto peoplewhoarerunningfromthelaw.Period.

I’ ve introduced legislation to stop these payments, which passed the House earlier this fall. This is not simply a fairnessissueeither.StaciAckerman,theExecutiveDirector fortheSouthDakotaSheriffs’Associationpointsout:“This bill will also limit [wanted felons and parole violators’] ability to avoid justice using taxpayer dollars to evade capture. ”Ontopofitall,thelegislationisestimatedtosave morethan$2billion.

I’ ve also introduced legislation to bring greater integrity to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program,whichisthecountry ’sprimaryassistanceprogram for low-income individuals and families. Today ’s program often perpetuates poverty, rather than opportunity.With my legislation,werealignTANFwithitscoremission:offering upward mobility and the opportunity for greater financial independencetohardworkingAmericans.

Additionally, I’m fighting to make sure the Indian Health Service (IHS) is held responsible for the care it delivers. Whether it’s a drug testing program for employees or strengthening fiscal accountability measures, greater accountability will better keep the IHS focused on serving tribalcommunities.

I’ ve also voted to expand whistleblower protections within the VA and streamline the process required to fire any VA employee, reforms President Trump signed into law.All of this only scratches the surface of what’s being done, which highlightsjusthowbrokenthefederalgovernmentis.

As we continue to work toward fixing agencies across the board,Iencourageyoutoreachouttomyofficeifyouneed assistance with the IRS, VA, Social Security, or any other federal bureaucracy. We can help you navigate the process and, when necessary, hold them directly accountable on yourbehalf.