In response to Donald Trump picking Billy Long as IRS commissioner, DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd released the following statement: 

“Donald Trump wants to hand over the IRS to a commissioner who will help tax cheats scam the system and cost our government billions of dollars — that’s why he picked Billy Long, who’s already done it before. Just like Trump, Long has made clear he’ll always put the ultra-rich and big corporations first, and hardworking families will foot the bill.”

NEW: Donald Trump’s IRS commissioner pick Billy Long is an unqualified MAGA loyalist whose record includes hawking tax credits during the pandemic that were riddled by fraud and cost the government billions.

New York Times: “Trump Picks Ex-Congressman Who Hawked Tax Credits to Lead I.R.S.”

“Mr. Long, after losing a Senate primary in 2022, has hawked a pandemic-era tax credit that has been riddled by fraud and cost the government billions more than expected. Lawmakers have tried to shut down the tax credit, and the I.R.S. temporarily stopped processing claims, among other measures, to root out false applications for the tax break.”

Wall Street Journal: “Long’s political background is notably different from other IRS commissioners, and he wasn’t deeply involved in tax policy or tax administration while in the House. He doesn’t have the long tax track record that Rettig had and he doesn’t have the management experience that other recent commissioners brought to the job.” 

Long wants to take further and make permanent Trump’s tax scam, which gave handouts to the ultra-rich and big corporations on the backs of working Americans.

Long: “Less than six months after his speech, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law, making good on those promises. …

“I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on tax reform 2.0, which will be released in September. Tax reform 2.0 would ensure TCJA tax cuts are permanent and would create incentives for both businesses and individuals to innovate and save money.” 

Springfield News-Leader: “In Rep. Long’s report on the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency, he rightfully ties himself directly to this administration. First, Billy touts the improving economy by citing job growth. ‘In 2017, more than 2 million jobs were added,’ says Long, failing to note that in President Obama’s last year, jobs were up by 2.2 million. Every American supports job growth, but by any measure, the Trump/Long number is not ‘momentum.’ Rep. Long then notes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as a ‘win for families.’”

REMINDER: Trump has a long history of selling out the American people to the highest bidder. 

Washington Post: “Trump makes sweeping promises to donors on audacious fundraising tour”

“Trump sometimes makes requests higher than his team expects to receive, sometimes surprising his own advisers because he is asking for so much money. By frequently tying the fundraising requests within seconds of promises of tax cuts, oil project infrastructure approvals and other favorable policies and asking for sums more than his campaign and the GOP can legally accept from an individual, Trump is also testing the boundaries of federal campaign finance laws, according to legal experts.”

Rolling Stone: “As Trump Promises Donors Big Policy Favors, Cash Pours In”

“In April, Donald Trump asked oil and gas executives to donate $1 billion to help his 2024 presidential campaign, according to The Washington Post, which reported that he had promised the donors a host of policy favors, including a rollback of President Joe Biden’s environmental regulations and faster, painless corporate mergers.

“Now, fossil fuel cash is pouring in: Last month, Energy Transfer CEO Kelcy Warren hosted a Houston-area fundraiser for Trump — and he also donated $5 million to the primary pro-Trump super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc. The oil and gas firm Continental Resources, Inc. donated $1 million to MAGA Inc. in late April.”