Senate Confirms Billy Long as IRS Commissioner

On Thursday, Senate Republicans moved to approve President Trump’s choice for the IRS commissioner, former Congressman Billy Long. The vote, which fell strictly along party lines, concluded with a tally of 53-44.

This decision makes Long the fifth individual to take on this role within the IRS this year. Interestingly, he steps into the position amid a significant reduction in the agency’s workforce, a result of the White House’s Government Efficiency initiative.

Having previously served in the House representing Missouri’s 7th District, Long faces quite a daunting task. He’ll be leading an agency he once sought to dismantle, which is kind of, well, ironic, I guess.

During a past confirmation hearing, Long encountered sharp criticism from Senate Democrats, especially regarding his support for a law aimed at abolishing the IRS altogether. Questions arose concerning the potential for conflicts of interest, particularly related to his support for certain tax credits.

Long, who also serves as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, is likely to align closely with Trump’s vision for tax reform, which has included ideas like scrapping income taxes in favor of a national sales tax. This promotion signals that the President may have a steadfast ally in Long as he looks to influence future changes within the agency.

It’s certainly going to be interesting to see how this unfolds, especially considering the contentious landscape of tax policy these days.