Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2012

Floor Speech

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Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as Chairman Issa stated during the Oversight Committee's consideration of this bill, H.R. 828, this is largely a symbolic gesture.

We all agree that everyone, including Federal workers, should pay their taxes. Members on both sides of the aisle emphasize the need to hold Federal employees accountable for tax obligations. However, the overwhelming majority of Federal workers take their income tax obligation seriously.

The tax compliance rate for Federal employees is much higher than for the American public. According to the most recent statistics from the Internal Revenue Service, more than 96 percent of Federal workers pay their taxes on time and do not owe money to the government.

In addition, there are already existing laws and regulations that address tax debts owed by Federal employees, and the IRS has a system in place for levying up to 15 percent of Federal wage payments made to delinquent taxpayers until the tax debt is satisfied.

The Joint Committee on Taxation has concluded that H.R. 828 would have ``negligible impact'' on revenue. In fact, implementation of the bill would have a small cost. So, I'm not certain that this bill will have any significant impact whatsoever.

I strongly believe that the House's efforts and energy would be better spent by focusing on measures to strengthen the Federal civil service and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Government rather than by making symbolic gestures that reinforce a negative view of the Federal workforce.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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