US Senator John Thune (and guest’s) Weekly Column: Accelerate Customer Service at the IRS

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Accelerate Customer Service at the IRS

By Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

John_Thune,_official_portrait,_111th_CongressThe IRS stumbled its way through tax season, still struggling to try to restore its reputation after its political targeting scandal gravely undermined confidence in the federal tax-collecting agency’s ability to fairly administer tax laws.

With the 2015 tax-filing season fading in the rearview mirror, now is the time to look to the road ahead and make serious repairs at the beleaguered federal agency.

A look under the IRS’ hood exposes systemic troubles that continue to throttle quality taxpayer services. Even 16 years after Congress passed sweeping taxpayer rights laws, a culture of mismanagement continues to steer the IRS away from sorely needed public redemption. Instead, misguided decisions and more violations of taxpayer privacy clog its core mission to serve the taxpaying public with integrity.

Consider that wait times nearly doubled for calls placed to the toll-free hot lines during the 2015 tax season, according to the IRS’ internal watchdog. And for taxpayers whose calls made the connection, the IRS would answer only “basic” questions. What’s more, the National Taxpayer Advocate also reported in January that the IRS would not answer any tax law questions for the 15 million taxpayers who file after the April 15 deadline. And yet the IRS prioritized $60 million in bonuses to its employees.

It’s time to flush out a mindset of self-service and retool the agency with quality customer service.

It’s even harder for taxpayers to swallow gross mismanagement that includes hours on the taxpayer dime devoted to union activity, federal employees who remain on paid administrative leave for years without doing their jobs, and federal workers whose tax delinquency adds up to $3.5 billion.

These are head scratchers that taxpayers and good-government watchdogs (like us) are itching to see fixed.

No doubt, the IRS has a tall order to fill, processing nearly 150 million tax returns and receiving 100 million phone calls each year. Tasked with an increasingly complex federal code, the IRS also bears the burden of implementing expansive tax law changes that go above and beyond revenue collection to administering dozens of complicated new provisions created by Obamacare.

What’s worse, the Government Accountability Office found that the IRS sent out $5.8 billion in fraudulent tax refunds in 2013. Considering the recent massive data breaches at the IRS and Office of Personnel Management, the federal government is clearly facing a steep curve to thwart cyber crimes that put sensitive personal information at risk of piracy.

Taxpayers sacrifice substantial shares of their hard-earned money to finance public services for the public good.  Our system of voluntary compliance depends on the IRS responsibly collecting taxes and administering federal tax laws with integrity and fairness. The last thing the IRS ought to be doing is squandering tax dollars or leaving taxpayers vulnerable to identity theft.

Basic principles of good government should be the rule, not the exception. This includes shielding taxpayer information, treating individual taxpayers with respect and professionalism, and providing first-rate customer service. So when the IRS underperforms when it comes to these fundamental functions of its mission or the taxpaying public perceives unfair bias in its performance, it is clear the IRS needs a new map to get back on track.

Law-abiding taxpayers play by the rules and expect the same in return.  The IRS needs to get serious about mending fences and rebuilding trust with the taxpaying public.

Building from bipartisan reforms enacted in 1988, 1996, and 1998, we just introduced new legislation that would root out misconduct and restore sagging credibility caused by poor customer service and violations of taxpayer rights.

Our Taxpayer Bill of Rights Enhancement Act of 2015 sends a strong signal to those entrusted with administering the nation’s tax laws. The IRS needs to remember that it conducts the people’s business when it enforces and administers the nation’s tax laws. Our bill shows that Congress means business when it comes to tax fairness and taxpayer privacy.

Take a look at a few points of interest on our legislative route to upgrade taxpayer service at the IRS. Our bill would:

  • establish a statutory requirement for the IRS commissioner to ensure that IRS employees abide by the “Taxpayer Bill of Rights” adopted last summer by the federal agency;
  • update termination requirements for misconduct by an IRS employee who violates the “10 deadly sins” originally in theIRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, clarifying that abusing official actions for political purposes qualifies as a job-losing offense;
  • increase criminal and civil penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of taxpayer information, forbid use of personal email accounts for official business, and install confidentiality firewalls for government contractors; and
  • enhance accountability by requiring timely updates to victims of alleged wrongdoing by IRS employees.

America can’t afford to have taxpayers lose faith in their government’s ability to fairly administer revenue collection.  Enforcing meatier taxpayer rights at the IRS will help flesh out better customer service and move toward fixing bone-deep grievances.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, championed the 1988, 1996, and 1998 taxpayer rights laws currently on the books. Sens. Grassley and Thune currently serve together on the Finance Committee and are joining forces to make the right to quality service a high priority at the IRS.

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Enjoy your father’s day!

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planer I don’t know about you, but so far, so good this father’s day.

I got to sleep in a little, and the kids graciously threw some father’s day gifts at me, including a Lowe’s gift card which I used towards a purchase of a DeWalt Planer. (Thanks Kids… and Mrs PP).

Or as my #3 daughter put it, “So, mom got you a present so you can work on more projects for her?”  Something like that.

tableI’ve been up-cycling old pallets lately, turning them into various things, and this helps me up the quality significantly. That, and trying to belt sand them to a smooth grain is a bit of a pain.

After seeing my recent project, my oldest put in a request for a coffee table, so it could not have come at a better time. I’ve got the top gluing at the moment, and I’ll see how it turns out.

As my #3 alluded to, after the gifting, I’ve spent much of the afternoon in the garage covered in sawdust as I reclaim strips of oak and various woods from their former life to create things that my kids or wife might find useful. And, isn’t that what dad’s do?

In between all of this, I have a pork shoulder that’s been on the smoker since this morning, a pile of sweet corn that I’m going to roast on the grill, and my own dad to pick up from his apartment.

So, I’d better get back to it.  I wish all you dads out there as enjoyable a father’s day as I’m having today, and may you enjoy the company of the families you serve so well.

Senator Mike Rounds’ Weekly Column: Summer in South Dakota

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RoundsPressHeader Summer in South Dakota
By Senator Mike Rounds
June 19, 2015

MikeRounds official SenateNow that summer is officially here, many of us are planning family vacations and weekend getaways. With so many unique events across South Dakota during the summer months, people of all walks of life can find something that interests them. Whether you’re interested in fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking, boating, golfing or camping, just to name a few, you can do it here! Some of my favorite memories include weekends spent with family boating on the Missouri River or camping in the Black Hills.

South Dakota is a beautiful, diverse state with a rich history that attracts many world travelers. Travel and tourism are a major part of our economy in South Dakota. According to the South Dakota Department of Tourism, out-of-state visitors contributed $1.99 billion to our economy last year. That’s a growth of nearly 3 percent from 2013! This helps support the 28,000 South Dakota jobs that are tourism-related.

With so many activities going on this year, 2015 will undoubtedly be a big year for tourism in South Dakota. This August, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally celebrates its 75th anniversary. From August 3 through 9, hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world—bikers and non-bikers alike—will descend upon Sturgis to attend the rally. It is estimated that attendance for Sturgis this year could reach 1 million – more than our state’s population! In addition, Mount Rushmore celebrates its 90th anniversary.

South Dakota is home to six National Park Service sites and 56 state parks and recreation areas. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, the Mickelson Trail and Jewel Cave are just a few of the beautiful and unique places for tourists and South Dakotans to visit in the Black Hills. In the central and eastern part of the state, a number of glacial lakes and reservoirs are maintained by the Game Fish & Parks Department and provide for top-notch fishing, especially if you’re trying to catch walleye or smallmouth bass.

Often referred to as the land of infinite variety, each region of South Dakota has a unique landscape ranging from rolling prairies and peaceful lakes to majestic mountains and towering pines. Visitors can retrace the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, attend a powwow, plan a hunting or fishing excursion or experience the American Old West of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood.

Summertime in South Dakota is a great opportunity to explore all that our state has to offer. In addition to our historical landmarks and scenic parks, the kindness and generosity of the people of South Dakota are what keep visitors coming back time and time again.

There’s no better place to spend quality time with friends and family than the great outdoors of South Dakota. I thank those South Dakotans who work in the tourism industry and make our state a fun, inviting and exciting place to vacation. I am extremely proud of all we have to offer and will continue to promote and advocate for the South Dakota tourism industry while working in the United States Senate. South Dakota is the land of great faces and great places!

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Congresswoman Kristi Noem: Good Over Evil

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Good Over Evil
By Rep. Kristi Noem
June 19, 2015

kristi noem headshot May 21 2014In his speech before Congress last March, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled the Book of Esther, explaining how this ancient queen exposed a plot to destroy the Jewish people and, as a result, ensured good triumphed over evil.

As Netanyahu went on to explain, the Jewish people once again face an adversary who seeks to destroy them – an adversary who is on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon. That matters to us, not only because we ought to stand against this kind of obliterating evil, but because the national security interests of Israel and the United States are closely intertwined.

Israel plays a critical role in our efforts to defeat ISIL, Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations in the region. Our countries have collaborated on improving stability in the region, worked together to improve behavioral screening techniques at airports, and teamed up on counterterrorism efforts that make each of us a little safer. We also share a common enemy – Iran, a country whose intentions to destroy does not stop at Israel, but extends to the United States. Undoubtedly, Israel is one of our closest allies in a tumultuous region and so their survival is critical to American national security.

Nonetheless, President Obama is pursuing a deal with Iran. Such a deal would put nuclear restrictions on Iran and in exchange, America would lift some or all economic sanctions on the Iranian people. I, along with many in the national security community, am concerned that the administration is headed down the wrong path with these negotiations.

If we are going to make a deal, it needs to be a good deal. In other words, it must be a deal that ensures Iran has absolutely no path to a nuclear weapon. Even no deal would be better than a bad one, as the President’s administration has admitted.

Many in South Dakota and across the county have embraced five requirements for a “good deal,” as outlined by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee – or AIPAC. I too believe these requirements are a good measurement of what a final deal should include.

First, Iran would need to dismantle its nuclear infrastructure and surrender its uranium stockpiles.

Second, inspectors would need full access to suspicious sites – anywhere, anytime. I for one don’t trust Iran; we must be able to verify that they’re following our rules.

Third, sanctions must stay in place until it is certified that Iran has upheld its end of the deal. If at any point Iran violates our agreement, there needs to be immediate consequences.

Fourth, Iran needs to come clean about its previous nuclear work. This is the first step toward building confidence in the fact that their efforts are sincere. It’s also a way in which we can establish a baseline.

Finally, the agreement must avoid setting an arbitrary timeline for nuclear restrictions to expire. Iran’s nuclear program must be heavily regulated until the country demonstrates it no longer wants a nuclear weapons capability.

The negotiations between Iran, the United States and five American-aligned countries are scheduled to conclude on June 30. At that point, Congress will have at least 30 days to consider the agreement before any congressionally mandated sanctions against Iran would be lifted. Congress will have the ability to vote a bad deal down at that point, but that’s going to be an uphill battle, as we’ll need a number of Democrats to vote against the President’s agenda.

We must not afford Iran the ability to further threaten Middle Eastern stability, jeopardize American interests, or destroy our strongest ally. In fact, we must eliminate every nuclear pathway Iran has access to in order to help ensure – just as Queen Esther did – that good continues to triumph over evil.

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Governor Daugaard’s Weekly Column: Update On The Tribal Pilot Parole Program

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Update On The Tribal Pilot Parole Program
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

Daugaard This week I had the honor of speaking about South Dakota’s criminal justice system at a policy briefing on Capitol Hill. I talked with policymakers about the process we undertook to study our growing prison population and the criminal justice reforms we adopted in 2013. I encouraged those who attended to look to South Dakota as they consider making similar reforms at the federal level.

It was an easy pitch because the reforms we’ve adopted in South Dakota are already bringing positive results. Our prison population is lower than what was projected; we haven’t had to construct a new state prison; and the tribal pilot parole program we put in place last year has been effective.

Nearly 30 percent of the inmates in the state prison system are Native American. More than half of parolees who abscond from the state parole supervision are Native Americans. In many of these cases, the absconders are returning to one of the reservations, where they often have homes and families. Unfortunately, because the state lacks jurisdiction on the reservations, state parole agents can no longer supervise parolees who return to a reservation.

The tribal pilot parole program was enacted one year ago as an agreement between the state of South Dakota and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. Under the program, the tribe supervises enrolled tribal members who want to return to the Lake Traverse Reservation while on parole.

The state provides the training and funding for a tribal parole agent to supervise parolees on the reservation under the same parole system that state agents use. This system applies swift, certain and proportionate sanctions for misbehavior, along with incentives for compliance. These evidence-based practices have been shown to reduce the risk that a parolee will return to the penitentiary.

As a part of the pilot program, a tribal wellness team meets regularly to provide support for the parolees in the program. The team includes individuals who work in a number of different areas including mental health, tribal law enforcement, drug and alcohol treatment, housing, and veteran’s affairs. If a participant violates parole, the wellness team reviews the individual’s case and determines the most appropriate sanctions. They take the risks and needs of each violator into consideration, and apply the penalties which are most likely to change behavior.

So far the results of the pilot program have been very promising. In the first year, 95 percent of the offenders in the tribal parole pilot did not abscond or have a parole violation report submitted. Nearly 70 percent went without a sanction due to a rule violation. No offenders were returned to prison because of a new conviction and only one offender was returned to prison due to a technical violation.

In its first year, the parole program with Sisseton Wahpeton has been a success. The pilot has led to smoother transitions for Native American parolees and restoration for tribal families. If the tribal pilot parole program continues to be successful, we’ll have the opportunity to expand it to other reservations.

Of all things undertaken in my four and a half years as Governor, the Public Safety Improvement Act is one of the efforts of which I am most proud. Through the tribal pilot parole program and other programs under the law, we are not only improving public safety and reducing spending, but holding offenders more accountable and improving lives.

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Legislators are back advocating for criminals instead of victims.

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The Argus Leader has a story out there today where, once again, we have Republican legislators who have their priorities backwards. 

Because they’re out there advocating to make life easier for criminals, as opposed to victims:

State Sen. Craig Tieszen, R-Rapid City, is among those who thinks the next criminal justice reform should include a discussion of how to help people leaving prison as a way to prevent them from returning.

“These people should have an opportunity to re-enter the workforce,” Tieszen said. “Obviously, they won’t be automatically hired, but they deserve equal opportunity to re-enter the workforce.”

Tieszen, who recently advocated for legislation to restore ex-convicts’ voting rights, said the state could use a “ban the box” law.

And…

We’re just locking people up and shaming them. … It’s a broken system, and South Dakota I think is a good place to experiment with change,” Hickey said. “I believe the best way to help them is to treat them as human beings.”

Read it all here.

If some of these guys spent as much time working to ensure crime victims were made whole, and criminals were held to full account for the damage they do to people’s lives, I might be more sympathetic.

But they don’t. They spend an inordinate amount of time trying to make the criminal whole, as opposed to the people whom they might have damaged along the way.

Until victims are restored, criminals should not expect to participate fully in society.

It is a privilege that should be earned. Not handed back.

Representative May responds to post

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Representative May responded to our post below on the issues she expressed with the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Education, and I thought it was worth bringing up to a top level post for discussion. (No changes to the text, but I did add some paragraph formatting to the text for readability):

    1. Liz May
      I can’t believe I’m on a “Blog” but since it was brought to my email box I’ve decided to respond and use my “Real” name.
      The State of South Dakota along with the rest of the country wanted out of “No Child Left Behind” The Feds. offered a RTT Grant that States could apply for. South Dakota applied for the RTT Grant with no guarantees that they would receive it. Upon applyiing for the grant they were required to entered into a contract for CCSS. South Dakota DID NOT receive the RTT Grant, but now were required to implement CCSS. With the implementation of CCSS it came at a high cost. Since there was no money that came through the RTT Grant the state was now on the hook to pay for the updates. These facts were held back from the citizens of SD.
      I’ve been asking for 3 years “What the financial consequences are for implementation of CCSS to no avail.”Fast forward to 2015 Legislative Session and SB53. The Gov. and Dept. of Education had no intentions nor could they pay for the technology and assessments without political consequences. So what they did is used SB53 to pass the cost on to the local districts.
      You might wonder why would any legislator support such a move. Well, they wrote the bill to include the technology/assessments and to get the votes needed they threw the sparsity into the bill. Legislators that had areas of sparsity in their district were scared that they would loose the funding. Sparsity had always been part of the Cutler/Gabriel Formula. That’s the background on CCSS adoption so let’s move on to the arguement. Under CCSS teachers can use 15% of outside material (not associated with CCSS) in the classroom.
      The problem with using outside material or teaching in a different manner is CC is based on the results for SBAC. (Teachers are evaluted based on SBAC results) If you were a teacher would you add material or alternative’s to adding 2+2 that students will not be tested on? See that’s the problem, teachers are not allowed to deviate away from the curriculum without suffering the consequences of retaliation. Local school boards have no other alternative in what standards, curriculum and assessments they use. There is currently only 3 text book companies and they all align to CCSS.
      So the idea that CCSS is a free, transparent and locally controlled way to educate is a fadrication sold to you by none other than Bill Gates, unelected bureaucrats and companies that are making millions of dollars of the backs of our chilldren.
      On a side note, schools districts such as Rapid City who are under financial distress/loosing teachers are a direct result of the technology/assessment mandates. The money they’re asking for is not for teacher pay. The taxpayers are once again required to pay for something that is unproven and our children are being used as guinea pigs. This new Blue Ribbon Taskforce is an affront to everything we stand for in South Dakota. The new “rules” handed out to legislators in an email from the governor’s office should spark outrage all across the state. In South Dakota the legislature is tasked with in my view the most important job of any society, The education of our children.
      However, in recent years, the bureaucrats, along with the full cooperation of the education committee chairs, have shut elected official and the public out of the discussion.
      Only those who are willing to submit to the executive branches’ mandates without question are given any voice. I I ran to serve the citizens of District 27 and all citizens of South Dakota. I was not elected by bureaucrats and the Governor. The way legislators are push aside is nothing short of draconian.
      As citizens, you don’t have to agree with my ideas on education. The issue at play here is that if you find my policy prescriptions ineffective you have recourse as is your God given right. Get me out of office. However, our current administration has found the silly notion of elected officials to be cumbersome and an obstacle to their current agenda.

Read the original text here.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Surface Transportation Board Reforms

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Senate Passes Bipartisan Surface Transportation Board Reforms

“Passage of my bipartisan legislation will make the STB more accountable and effective in addressing rail rate and service disputes.”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the lead sponsor of S. 808, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015, issued the following statement on the bill’s approval by the U.S. Senate last night by unanimous consent: 

“Nearly 20 years ago, Congress established the Surface Transportation Board to oversee our nation’s freight railroad system. Passage of my bipartisan legislation will make the STB more accountable and effective in addressing rail rate and service disputes. The severe rail backlogs and service delays that began at the end of 2013 and extended through 2014 are a reminder of just how vital our nation’s rail system is for agricultural producers in South Dakota as well as many other sectors of the U.S. economy. This legislation was the result of working with a host of stakeholders across the country to find agreement on reforms that will benefit shippers and railroads alike. I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues on the Commerce Committee including the ranking Democrat, Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, for working to pass this legislation. I look forward to seeing these common sense reforms signed into law this Congress.”

Highlights of S. 808:

  • Improves the STB’s current dispute resolution process by setting timelines for rate reviews and expanding voluntary arbitration procedures to address both rate and service disputes;
  • Ensures the STB has the authority to proactively resolve problems before they escalate into larger disputes by providing the STB with the ability to initiate investigations on matters other than rate cases; and
  • Improves the STB’s structure and decision making processes by expanding the board membership from three to five and, with proper disclosure, allowing board members to talk with one another.

The Senate Commerce Committee approved the bill by voice vote on March 25, 2015.

The STB is the federal regulatory body responsible for economic oversight of the nation’s freight rail system. Run by a three-member bipartisan board, the agency has regulatory jurisdiction over railroad rates, mergers, line acquisitions, new rail-line construction, line abandonment, and other rail issues. The STB was created by Congress in 1996 as the successor to the Interstate Commerce Commission. Since that time, the STB has not been reauthorized or substantively reformed.

Thune serves as chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which has jurisdiction over our nation’s freight and passenger railroads, and is a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. In addition, Thune previously served as South Dakota State Railroad Director under former Governor George S. Mickelson from 1991-1993. At Thune’s request, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a report earlier this year that concluded the rail backlog in 2013 and 2014 lowered corn, wheat, and soybean prices in the Upper Midwest and caused shippers to pay record-high railcar premiums, 28 to 150 percent above the average previous levels for roughly 65 consecutive weeks.

Click here for a copy of S. 808.

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S.D. Attorney General Explanation for Initiative Measure Relating to Maximum Finance Charges Upheld

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S.D. Attorney General Explanation for Initiative Measure Relating to Maximum Finance Charges Upheld

PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today Circuit Judge Kathleen Trandahl has denied the request to have the Attorney General’s Office rewrite the explanation for the initiated measure relating to maximum finance charges for certain lenders. Opponents of the measure recently challenged the explanation in court. Judge Trandahl rejected their arguments and held that Jackley’s explanation was proper.

“Pursuant to South Dakota law, I have worked to provide a fair, clear, and simple summary of the proposed measure in order to assist our voters. The Court has reaffirmed the fairness of this process,” said Jackley.

Under South Dakota law, the Attorney General is responsible for preparing explanations for proposed initiated measures, referred laws, and South Dakota Constitutional Amendments. Specifically, the explanation includes a title, an objective, clear and simple summary of the purpose and effect of the proposed measure and a description of the legal consequences.

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Democratic Mayor Mike Huether may just have blown development deal 

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Democratic Mayor Mike Huether may just have blown a major Sioux Falls development deal because he just can’t help trying to draw attention to himself. As noted in today’s Argus:

Last week’s unveiling of a downtown development plan left many with the impression that iconic establishment Skelly’s Pub and Grill has been sold and will be demolished as part of the $40 million project.

That’s news to Houston Haugo, the 73-year-old owner of the Phillips Avenue property, who criticized Mayor Mike Huether and other city officials for announcing details of a public-private partnership that is still under negotiation.

“There’s no deal,” Haugo said Wednesday from his home in Arizona. “No money has been exchanged and there’s no signed agreement. This was a case of the mayor and (development director) Darrin Smith overdriving their mouths.”

And..

One potential hurdle, however, is the higher price that property owners might seek if they see their buildings as crucial to the city’s development plan. That is why some are scratching their heads about what they perceive to be a premature and ill-advised announcement.

“When you’re dealing with business negotiations, you just don’t do stuff like that,” said Haugo, a former Valley Bank chairman and Lincoln County commissioner who has owned Skelly’s since 2003. “With this stupid move, I could ask for more money. But I’ve known (Sweet) a long time and we came up with a price.”

Read it all here.

One thing my mother taught me about business was that “once the deal is made, don’t talk the other guy out of it.”. In other words, if you have a agreement in principle, don’t say something stupid and blow the deal before it’s set in stone.

Advice that Huether would be wise to heed.