The IRS scandal will not lead to repealing the XVI Amendment. Anything less than repeal is meaningless. Short of repeal, the House can defund the IRS if it is serious. That aint going to happen even if IRS officials like Lois Lerner flat out tell every congressional committee to piss off while flipping them the bird.
Implying that the prevailing culture in the IRS can be changed by congressional committees is the same as saying the culture of Nazism could have been changed by investigating the gestapo.
A scandal being investigated by a congressional committee seldom produces more than a memorable sound bite à la "What difference, at this point, does it make?" That is a poor return for the money spent on congressional committees.
Since the prevailing culture in the IRS cannot be changed maybe it is time to change committee rules. Start with the five-minute rule. I suggest the clock only runs when a committee member is speaking. Surely, it is a simple matter to keep track of the time a committee member is actually talking.
If nothing else, my proposed five-minute rule will at least prevent hostile witnesses from running out the clock. This video included in John Haywards article is typical of unfriendly-witness testimony:
People more computer savvy than I might be hoping e-mails will catch Lois Lerner in a fib. Ill believe it when I see a congo line of IRS officials doing the perp walk.
Implying that the prevailing culture in the IRS can be changed by congressional committees is the same as saying the culture of Nazism could have been changed by investigating the gestapo.
A scandal being investigated by a congressional committee seldom produces more than a memorable sound bite à la "What difference, at this point, does it make?" That is a poor return for the money spent on congressional committees.
Since the prevailing culture in the IRS cannot be changed maybe it is time to change committee rules. Start with the five-minute rule. I suggest the clock only runs when a committee member is speaking. Surely, it is a simple matter to keep track of the time a committee member is actually talking.
If nothing else, my proposed five-minute rule will at least prevent hostile witnesses from running out the clock. This video included in John Haywards article is typical of unfriendly-witness testimony:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax6QGmKhRwo&feature=player_embedded]Chaffetz asks IRS Commissioner: "Are you going to comply with subpoena?" - YouTube[/ame]
People more computer savvy than I might be hoping e-mails will catch Lois Lerner in a fib. Ill believe it when I see a congo line of IRS officials doing the perp walk.
