Senate Cuts IRS Budget, Shifts $241 Million to Anti-Drug Effort

The Senate voted today to slash the proposed 1989 Internal Revenue Service budget by $241 million and use the money for the Customs Service’s anti-drug program.

The cut in the IRS budget, to the 1988 level of just under $5.1 billion, was part of a bill that included $15.9 billion for the Treasury Department and its agencies, the Postal Service and several other federal agencies. The vote was 81 to 4.

The larger bill also calls for a 4% pay increase in 1989 for all federal civilian employees except members of Congress, and 4.1% for military personnel.

The bill includes $1.05 billion for the Customs Service, which is $79 million above what the Administration requested and $41 million over what the House passed.

“I am proud to say that this bill goes the extra mile, beyond the President’s budget to maintain our important anti-drug effort at some of the most important drug enforcement agencies,” said Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.).

As part of the Customs Service efforts against illegal drugs, the bill recommends the agency buy a surveillance airship capable of carrying a sensor that can detect ship movements in the Gulf of Mexico. The measure includes money for customs to develop four long-range P-3 Orion planes to use in drug surveillance missions.

The White House had opposed reducing the IRS spending. It cautioned that the “impact of this reduced level on returns processing and taxpayer services would be devastating.” IRS Commissioner Lawrence B. Gibbs had complained that the reduction could cut revenues by $1.4 billion next year.