WASHINGTON D.C. : House Backs Sharp Cut in IRS Budget

The House passed legislation that would deeply cut the Internal Revenue Service’s budget and deny a pay raise to members of Congress. The bill, approved, 215 to 207, would provide $11 billion in fiscal 1997 for the IRS, the Treasury Department, the White House and other government agencies. The Senate has yet to write its version of legislation to fund those agencies. The Clinton administration warned the bill would trim the IRS budget by 11%, cut about 2,000 jobs and result in delayed refunds, crippled revenue collection and reduced taxpayer services.