The CDC, the USPHS, the NIH, the 53 US dental schools AND the IRS all lie!
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Wednesday, April 18, 2001
IRS allegedly bad-mouthed auditor
When the whistleblower sought a Texas accounting license, the agency
prepared to send a derogatory report to the state.
By Larry Margasak
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - The IRS sought to thwart a whistleblower from getting her
accounting license, prompting concern on Capitol Hill about possible
retaliation. The auditor had testified at nationally televised hearings in
1997 that her agency harassed taxpayers.
Internal Revenue Service officials sent a routine form back to Texas
licensing regulators in February about Houston agent Jennifer Long,
declining to answer questions about her skill, character and integrity,
while alerting the agency that it was sending a "narrative" required for
derogatory information.
The agency then drafted a three-page letter to the regulators, dated March
22, that sharply criticized her work on multiple fronts, including
suggesting that she had mishandled audits.
"The probes for unreported income were not adequate," said the letter, which
was obtained by the Associated Press.
The Texas Board of Public Accountancy granted Long's license without regard
to the IRS's evaluation.
Long was the star witness at 1997 hearings before the Senate Finance
Committee that examined alleged abuses by the IRS. She was the lone agency
worker to shun a voice disguise and protective screen used by fellow
whistleblowers to conceal their identities.
IRS officials sent her a termination notice in 1999, but never fired her,
after members of Congress inquired about possible retribution.
The latest episode prompted Finance Committee chairman Charles Grassley (R.,
Iowa) to allege that the letter drafted for Texas regulators amounted to new
retaliation.
"I can only conclude that this action by the IRS may be a precursor to a
termination of Ms. Long in retaliation for her testimony as a congressional
witness," Grassley wrote to IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti this month.
Grassley added that he would "take every recourse within my power to protect
her."
IRS officials declined to discuss why the letter was drafted and why it was
never sent, citing employee privacy.
But Rossotti said in an interview that he was "very familiar . . . up to
date" about the incident, and was confident that there was no retaliation
against any agency whistleblowers.
"There have been various incidents of complaints that have come up. I have
made it a point to be sure that every one of those situations has been
thoroughly - and, I would say, very thoroughly - investigated," he said.
"I can tell you I am personally certain that none of these people were
retaliated against, and all have been treated fairly."
Long, whose job is to audit tax returns, alleged at hearings in 1997 that
"many agents are encouraged by management to pursue tax assessments that
have no basis in law from individuals who simply can't fight back."
Other IRS employees offered similar testimony with their faces hidden and
their voices disguised.
Long sued the IRS in federal court, alleging retaliation. But a federal
judge in Houston dismissed the lawsuit, pointing out in a footnote that the
federal office investigating her complaints had "closed the file."
The March 22 letter obtained by AP was prepared by K. Steven Burgess, an IRS
supervisor based in Dallas. He had partially filled out a state accountancy
board form for employers on Feb. 16, and had written "narrative to follow."
The draft letter by Burgess contended that, in a series of audits, "the time
charged to the examination was not commensurate" with the work Long had
done.
Burgess also accused Long of lacking "pre-audit planning," failing to
"provide an audit trail of actions," inadequately investigating unreported
income, and failing to follow new rules requiring examination notices to be
sent to both husband and wife when examining joint returns.
Burgess did not respond to calls to his office seeking comment.
Long said in an interview that Burgess provided her with the draft letter on
March 22, "and told me he would give me three days to look at it. I was to
call him Monday [March 26] and tell him whether I wanted him to send that
letter or wait six months and have the new manager review me."
William Treacy, executive director of the Texas accounting board, said the
IRS letter wouldn't have affected the approval because Long already had
informed his agency of her problems with the IRS, and had given her
rebuttal. Treacy said he approved her license because she met the
requirements for work experience and had passed the CPA examination.
"I think we used the best judgment," he said.
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JanDrew is right.