Sunday Roundup
This week, Americans fulfilled part of our responsibility to our government by filing taxes. But the government isn't doing its part in return. First, as a new report by the National Taxpayer Advocate showed, the IRS has been crippled by years of budget cuts, resulting in a "devastating erosion of taxpayer service" and filing misery for millions. Hold times, which were under three minutes in 2004, are now over 30 minutes. This isn't smaller government; it's broken government, which, for many budget-slashing legislators, is the point. In more news from dysfunctional D.C., Attorney General-Designate Loretta Lynch remains in limbo, her nomination held hostage by Senate Republicans for over five months. On Friday, a clearly frustrated President Obama demanded, "Call Loretta Lynch for a vote...This is embarrassing." Meanwhile, the bigger "news" was the breathless scoop of Hillary Clinton eating at Chipotle. She had, we were told, a chicken burrito bowl (with guacamole). If only our political system -- and media coverage -- were as satisfying.
sunday roundup week americans fulfil responsibility government file taxis government return new report national taxpayer advocate show irs cripple year budget cut result devastating erosion taxpayer service file misery million hold time minute minute small government break government budget slash legislator point news dysfunctional dc attorney general designate loretta lynch remain limbo nomination hold hostage senate republicans month friday clearly frustrated president obama demand loretta lynch vote embarrassing big news breathless scoop hillary clinton eat chipotle tell chicken burrito bowl guacamole political system medium coverage satisfying