IRS commissioner Charles Rossotti says the agency will not be able to comply with a reform measure approved Tuesday by the Senate Finance Committee as quickly as Congress wants.
Rossotti sent a letter to Roth Tuesday in which he explained that the agency's effort to prepare for the year 2000 computer problem is already in peril. He requested a delay in the effective date of many of the bill's provisions in order to meet the demands of the change to the year 2000.
Roth was not sympathetic. "Justice delayed is justice denied," Roth told reporters after the markup Tuesday. His spokeswoman added that Roth is committed to working with Rossotti, but that "he will not accept delays" in providing fairness to taxpayers.
"We are going to have to take a look at all those things in conference," Archer said. "All I can tell you is we'll have to look at it."
Meanwhile, a group of House freshmen sent a letter to Senate GOP leaders seeking passage of the bill in time for the April 15 tax filing deadline - a goal sought by Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., and others. "That is a desirable objective, but it is one that is beyond our grasp," conceded Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., at Tuesday's markup.
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