WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07) issued the following statement on the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act:

“With their first bill, Republicans have made their priorities perfectly clear: This bill helps neither families nor small businesses, but it does help wealthy tax evaders and Republican donors. This bill will prevent the IRS from addressing backlogs and from enforcing laws already on the books that will ensure the wealthy and corporate tax cheats pay their fair share. The wealthy should pay their taxes like everyone else.”

Background:

Republican budget cuts decimated the IRS, leaving it understaffed and underfunded, and Americans have paid the price. Audit rates on the ultra-rich have dropped and unpaid taxes from the 1% and corporations are soaring. An estimated $600 billion goes uncollected every year, this includes $160 billion from the top 1% alone. Closing the tax gap could result in an estimated $7 trillion over the next decade, making way for investments in programs that would change the lives of workers and their families.