3 chapters across the catalog
IRS Funding, Jacob Lew and Tax Compliance
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and Senator Dick Durbin discuss the declining level of service at the IRS due to budget cuts. Lew reports that the agency only answers about 37% of calls with an average wait time of 23 minutes. The hosts suggest the agency is engaging in a deliberate "slowdown" to pressure Congress for more funding and to target "tax cheaters."
The hosts discuss the aggressive nature of IRS enforcement, noting that agents are armed and have the authority to eavesdrop on emails. Personal anecdotes are shared regarding the IRS's ability to track individuals internationally to ensure tax compliance.
Netherlands Austerity, Halal Housing, Religious Row
Adam Curry reports on social changes in the Netherlands, including the government's use of commercial bill collectors to enforce austerity measures. A significant debate has emerged regarding "halal housing," which involves government-funded architecture designed to accommodate Islamic cultural practices such as gender segregation within the home. The BBC and other international outlets have labeled the controversy a "religious row" as the immigrant population grows in Western Europe.
