Stemming growth in government (Rep. Randy Forbes)

While it may not yet be clear
exactly how many personnel would be hired, one thing is without question: the
federal government will be seeking, for the first time, detailed and personal
information about individuals’ healthcare status.

Most Americans remember a time not
too long ago when the IRS was overreaching into their lives and abusing its
authority. Americans were not only frustrated at the IRS – they were fearful of
the IRS. IRS agents had become powerful and overbearing in their tax collecting
efforts. The IRS created a network of investigators and agents that instilled
fear in the minds of the American public about their taxes. Only after
widespread public outcry did Congress enact IRS reforms in the late
1990s.

This era in the life of the IRS is
an example of why many Americans today are concerned about systemic growth in
the federal government – they don’t want an overbearing, big-brother style of
government, especially when it comes to something as personal as their
healthcare. 

At a time when we are experiencing
unparalleled systemic growth and expansion in the federal government’s role and
authority over the lives of individual citizens, Americans are understandably
wary at the prospect of potentially funding the largest expansion of the IRS
since World War II.

On Tax Day 2010, I sent a bill to
the floor of the House of Representatives that would stop this dramatic
expansion in the size and authority of the IRS.

The Prevent IRS Overreach Act would prohibit the IRS from
hiring, transferring, or appointing individuals for positions that will enforce
provisions of the healthcare bills (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act or the Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act). Whether preventing
1,000 new IRS agents or 16,000 new agents as some have predicted, this bill is
intended to stem the growth in big government’s control and authority in the
lives of American citizens.

The text of this legislation is
available here.