Isakson Supports Treasury Secretary Nominee Mnuchin

Press Release

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., voted today to advance President Trump's nominee for U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, from the Senate Committee on Finance.

"The voters spoke in November and wanted change," said Isakson. "Mr. Mnuchin will help implement that change with a fresh, new regulatory framework that cuts the bureaucratic red tape that costs our economy trillions of dollars each year. Additionally, Mr. Mnuchin has firsthand experience of the devastating consequences of bad government policies that placed many hard-working Americans in mortgages they couldn't afford, and I am hopeful that his experience from this unfortunate economic time will help ensure that this never happens to homebuyers again. I am also pleased with his commitment to helping reduce taxpayer cases of IRS identity theft and refund fraud that occur during the tax filing season."

Senate Democrats had successfully blocked a committee vote on Mnuchin Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, by refusing to show up for the meeting. They again boycotted today's Senate Finance Committee vote, but Isakson asked for unanimous consent to temporarily suspend committee rules which requires at least one senator from the minority party to attend for a vote to occur. All 14 Republican members of the committee voted in favor of Isakson's motion and the rule was temporarily waived. Mnunchin was reported out of committee by a 14-0 margin, and his nomination now heads to the full Senate for final vote of approval.

After the Democrats' first boycott stunt on Tuesday, Isakson sharply addressed his colleagues in the Senate Finance Committee, saying the Democrats should do their job of casting an up-or-down vote.

During Mnuchin's confirmation hearing on Jan. 19, 2017, Isakson, who spent more than 30 years in the real estate industry and served as president of the Southeast's largest real estate firm, pressed Mnuchin to move forward with policies that will help protect Georgia taxpayers and homebuyers.

At the hearing, Isakson suggested to Mnuchin that the federal government as an employer provide W-2 forms to state tax agencies, including the Georgia Department of Revenue. This compliance by the federal government will help Georgia significantly reduce the identity theft and IRS refund fraud that hurts taxpaying Georgians, Isakson said.

Mnuchin committed to working with Isakson to finding a resolution that will benefit the thousands of federal employees, including many military servicemembers and veterans who make their home in Georgia, and that will help reduce the number of Georgia taxpayers who are the victims of state income tax refund fraud. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue, W-2s forms of military service members, retirees and veterans who are Georgia residents will have been received by the end of today.

Source