Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-08) today questioned Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson during a House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on President Bush’s budget proposals for fiscal year 2008.

“This budget is another giveaway to the wealthiest few.  It is unacceptable that the Administration continues to cut programs that middle and working class families rely on.”   

Pascrell questioned Secretary Paulson on the Internal Revenue Services’ private debt collection program.

“I am perplexed that the IRS is authorizing unnecessary contracts to private debt collection agencies as we strive to control government spending.  Indeed, the government stands to gain billions in uncollected taxes, but a recent federal report indicates that private tax collectors have been less efficient than in-house IRS tax collectors.  I will closely monitor the privatization of government services to ensure a maximum return on the taxpayer dollar.  How long will the IRS continue to waste valuable taxpayer dollars?”          

On February 5, 2007, President George W. Bush submitted his fiscal year 2008 budget to Congress.  The budget detailed his tax proposals for the coming year, as well as the budget for the Treasury Department and other activities of the Federal government.  The Treasury plays a key role in many areas of the Committee’s jurisdiction, including taxes and customs.

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