WC Missouri News

Mark Alford, a candidate for Congress in Missouri's 4th Congressional District, has signalled his support for a bill that would block the use of funds to "build an army of tax SWAT teams," according to a press release from the Stand For Freedom PAC. The legislation is authored by Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Banks, and is intended to be a response to the $80 billion allocated for the IRS in the Inflation Reduction Act passed earlier this year, which is to be used to hire new IRS personnel and increase enforcement.

According to his campaign website, Alford has been a live television news anchor. Alford faces incumbent Democrat Jack Truman.

"In just 18 months, the president has wrecked our economy. He has deserted our friends in Afghanistan, he left 13 U.S. service members to die there, he has weaponized the IRS, the Department of Justice and the FBI against the American people. He has failed to secure our border with Mexico allowing deadly fentanyl through that border that has killed more than 100,000 of our fellow citizens," Alford said in a video posted to YouTube on Sept. 1. "If our Democracy is under assault, it's from the lies and deception of your administration Mr. President. There's nothing extreme about standing for truth and standing for the Constitution. America has lost its way and it's time for true leaders, true leaders to guide us all to a brighter future." 

The Stand For Freedom PAC lauded Alford's pledge to back Banks' legislation, specifically highlighting concerns over the additions of "IRS adding tens of thousands of new agents, with $46 billion specifically targeted for increased enforcement."

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that the administration’s plan to increase funding to hire additional IRS staff would result in approximately $200 billion of additional tax revenue over 10 years from heightened tax enforcement activities.

According to the Senate Joint Committee on Taxation, increased tax enforcement activities would have a greater impact on those making $50,000 a year or less with over 50% of the projected revenue raised coming from taxpayers in that income bracket. The report also suggested that only about 4% to 9% of the additional tax revenue collected would come from those making $500,000 a year or more.

In place of funding for 87,000 new IRS staff, Banks’ filed legislation would make permanent and increase the standard deduction tax break from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. According to the bill, beginning in 2023 the deductions would be set at $14,025 for individuals, $21,060 for heads of households and $28,050 for families and would increase by inflation every fiscal year.

According to the Tax Foundation, an increase to the standard deduction would equate to a significant annual tax decrease for middle-class Americans.