William Roth

Mr. ROTH

Mr. ROTH. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Mr. BYRD addressed the Chair.

Mr. ROTH. That is part of the proposal.

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that for the Faircloth amendment there be a time limit of 20 minutes equally divided between the two sides and no second-degree amendments.

Mr. ROTH. As Senator Kerrey indicated, this amendment is acceptable to us, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. ROTH. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I say that both of these amendments are acceptable to the majority side. We have worked with Senator Kerrey on them and we think they are acceptable. So I urge that they be accepted by voice vote.

Mr. ROTH. Twenty minutes.

Mr. ROTH

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I concur and urge its adoption.

Mr. ROTH. Let me say, as long as the two of us are members of that committee, I am sure it will happen.

Mr. ROTH. I thank the Senator for bringing this to my attention and I can assure the Senator that we will take a look at this in conference.

Mr. ROTH. I say to the distinguished Senator from Nebraska that one of my real concerns has been that there has not been adequate oversight of IRS as well as other agencies. That is one of the things that got me moving a year ago, because I think, as the Senator, it is critically important that we assure the agency is functioning as the President and Congress intend it to function. That has not been the case with IRS. So I can assure the good Senator that it is my intention to have continuing oversight hearings. I think it is important now that we are involved in this massive reorganization opportunity to change culture that we do have at least once a year, if not more often, the kind of hearing the Senator is talking about. We are all very pleased to have this new Commissioner. We think we have an individual with the type of qualifications and background that will really make a major change. At the same time, I think it is our responsibility to continue from time to time to hold hearings to see if progress is being made. So I assure the Senator that as long as I am chairman of the committee we will continue to do so.

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I appreciate and concur with the comments of the Senator from Oklahoma.

Mr. ROTH. I thank the Senator from Montana and the Senator from Texas for their comments, and I will certainly look at these issues as this legislation moves to conference with the House.

Mr. ROTH. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, if there are no further speakers on this, I would say that this amendment is acceptable to both sides, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. ROTH

Mr. ROTH. I further note that this amendment has been cleared on both sides of the aisle. It is a good amendment. I urge its adoption. Mr. KERREY addressed the Chair.

Mr. ROTH. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendments Nos. 2365 and 2366, Withdrawn

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw amendment No. 2365 and amendment No. 2366.

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, again, this amendment addresses a serious problem that came out during the hearings held by the Finance Committee last week. It is an important change in the law. And I compliment the Senator for propounding it. At the appropriate moment I will urge its adoption. Mr. KERREY addressed the Chair.

Mr. ROTH. The first amendment I will offer would require disclosure to taxpayers concerning disclosure of their income-tax return information to parties outside the Internal Revenue Service.

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I have two amendments that have already been discussed by the senior Senator from Idaho, Senator Craig. Both amendments have been cleared on both sides of the aisle. Amendment No. 2377 (Purpose: To require disclosure to taxpayers concerning disclosure of their income tax return information to parties outside the Internal Revenue Service)

Mr. ROTH. I send the amendment to the desk.

Mr. ROTH

Mr. ROTH. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendments be dispensed with.

Mr. ROTH

Mr. ROTH. Mr. President, again, I congratulate the Senator from Texas for offering the amendment. This addresses a question that became very clear in our hearings last week that it was a serious problem. It is my understanding this has been cleared by both sides of the aisle. I urge its adoption. Mr. KERREY addressed the Chair.