|
Besides issues with stock trading and buffoonish behavior, Billy Long’s history on tax issues – pushing businesses to engage in questionable behavior, pushing for tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of the middle class – make him unqualified to lead the IRS. One area where Billy Long is aligned with Trump is their desire to change the tax system to hurt the middle-class while helping their rich buddies. Long co-sponsored two bills, a flat tax bill and a proposal to create a 23% national sales tax, which would result in a massive tax cut for the rich. By co-sponsoring a bill to prevent return-free filing, Long also protected tax preparation companies that charge everyday Americans to file their taxes. Billy Long’s non-tax political career is replete with right-wing extremism. Long consistently opposed gay marriage, but fled a same-sex wedding shower after he feared being photographed attending the event and being called out for his hypocrisy. Long mocked Christine Blasey Ford’s sexual assault allegations, joined efforts to overthrow the 2020 election, and cast doubt on the scientific consensus on climate change. Long may also face questions during his nomination process about his 2017 purchase of shares in Innate Immunotherapeutics, a company with ties to former Rep. Chris Collins that ultimately led to Collins’ conviction for insider trading. Billy Long’s nomination to head the IRS can be summed up by his co-sponsorships in Congress of bills to abolish the agency he now wants to lead. Long is an unserious nominee with multiple personal and political failings, whose only qualification seems to be wanting to change the tax system to help the rich. |
The Employee Retention Tax Credit Program Has Cost Taxpayers $175 Billion More Than Expected. According to the New York Times, “Cracking down on improper claims of the employee retention tax credit, which can provide eligible companies up to $26,000 per employee they had in 2020 and 2021, has been a top enforcement priority of the I.R.S. When Congress created the program, it was expected to cost the government $55 billion. As millions of claims swamped the I.R.S., the cost surpassed $230 billion, and some estimated that it could reach $550 billion.” [New York Times, 12/24/24]
2023: The IRS Stopped Accepting Employee Retention Tax Credit Applications After Evidence Showed “Many” May Have Been Improper. According to the New York Times, “Soon afterward, the I.R.S. temporarily stopped accepting applications for the credit nationwide and warned that many claims appeared improper. Mr. Long did not respond to requests for an interview with The Times.” [New York Times, 12/24/24]
IRS Commissioner In 2024: “Aggressive Promoters” Started “Taking Advantage Of Honest Small Businesses” Through The Employee Retention Tax Credit Program. According to the New York Times, “When Daniel Werfel, the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, testified before a House committee early this year, he tried to explain how a pandemic-era program had become an expensive government boondoggle. Congress created the employee retention tax credit to support businesses and nonprofits that continued paying employees despite facing difficulty during the pandemic. But as time went on, and the public health crisis faded, more and more companies lined up to claim the government support, egged on by third-party companies that told them they could be eligible for millions, Mr. Werfel said. ‘The further we got away from it, the more aggressive promoters and marketers started, in my opinion, taking advantage of honest small businesses and getting them to believe that they were eligible for a credit they truly weren’t eligible for,’ Mr. Werfel told lawmakers in February.” [New York Times, 12/24/24]
2023: Billy Long Joined Employee Retention Tax Credit Promoter Lifetime Advisors After Leaving Congress. According to the New York Times, “Mr. Long joined Lifetime’s network of salespeople soon after leaving Congress in 2023, pitching businesses and nonprofits in his former Missouri district, including swimming pool and roofing contractors, on taking the credit. He regularly sported a hat that said, “Ask me about E.R.T.C.” — the initials for the credit — as he sought out business.” [New York Times, 12/24/24]
Billy Long Received A Commission On Clients He Referred To Lifetime. According to the New York Times, “Mr. Long referred his clients to Lifetime, which would prepare an application for the tax credit and keep a slice of the money from the I.R.S. One contract viewed by The New York Times showed Lifetime collecting 20 percent of a roughly $300,000 tax credit, with half of the client’s fee due once Lifetime submitted the claim and the rest due upon receipt of the credit.” [New York Times, 12/24/24]
Billy Long Encouraged Businesses Turned Down By Accountants To Use Lifetime Advisors To Apply For The Employee Retention Tax Credit. According to the New York Times, “‘I want to encourage everyone: If you’ve been told no, no, no by your C.P.A., at least give Promax and Lifetime a chance and let them see if you do qualify or not,’ Mr. Long said, referring to certified public accountants and another sales entity.” [New York Times, 12/24/24]
Billy Long Had No Professional Background In Taxes Before Working For Lifetime Advisors Except For A Three-Day Course Certificate From A Tax Consulting Company. According to the New York Times, “Mr. Long, a former auctioneer and real estate agent, came to the work without any professional background in taxes. On his account on X, he describes himself as a ‘Certified Tax & Business Advisor’ who can help people save 40 percent on their taxes. Mr. Long received the certificate after attending a three-day course offered by Excel Empire, a Florida tax consulting company, a spokesman for the company told The Springfield News-Leader. Excel Empire was founded by Mr. Pearson, the man who settled his lawsuit against the founders of Lifetime.” [New York Times, 12/24/24]
Billy Long Repeatedly Sponsored Bills To Abolish The IRS During His Time In Congress. According to the New York Times, “During his time on Capitol Hill, Mr. Long was an early and enthusiastic supporter of Mr. Trump, repeatedly claiming that he invented the phrase ‘the Trump train.’ While he wasn’t a member of the tax-writing committees, he repeatedly sponsored legislation that called for the abolition of the I.R.S., though the bills went nowhere.” [New York Times, 12/24/24]
2011: Billy Long Co-Sponsored A Bill To Protect Tax Preparation Companies And Prevent Consumer Savings By Opposing Return-Free Filing. In June 2011, Billy Long co-sponsored a bill that, “prohibits the Secretary of the Treasury from developing or implementing a return-free tax system. Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 directing the Secretary to develop a return-free tax system.” The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. [Congressional Actions, H.R. 2528]
Billy Long Co-Sponsored Bill To Replace Income Tax With A 23% Federal Sales Tax. In July 2017, Billy Long co-sponsored a bill that, “imposes a national sales tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services in lieu of the current income and corporate income tax, employment and self-employment taxes, and estate and gift taxes. The rate of the sales tax will be 23% in 2019, with adjustments to the rate in subsequent years. There are exemptions from the tax for used and intangible property, for property or services purchased for business, export, or investment purposes, and for state government functions.” The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. [Congressional Actions, H.R. 25]
Billy Long Co-Sponsored Flat Tax Bill That Would Help The Rich. According to CBS, "As a congressman, Long co-sponsored some tax-related bills, including several efforts to eliminate the estate tax as well as a measure called the Tax Code Termination Act. That legislation would have wiped out much of the current tax code, replacing it with what the bill called a 'simple and fair system' that would have applied 'a low rate to all Americans.' Such flat taxes are considered regressive by many experts because low- and middle-income taxpayers would end up paying a larger share of their incomes than would wealthy Americans." [CBS, 12/6/24]
2015: Billy Long Opposed Supreme Court Decision To Legalize Gay Marriage. According to Vote Smart, “U.S. Representative Billy Long issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Obergefell v. Hodges ruling against state same-sex marriage prohibition. ‘I am disappointed the Supreme Court has ruled to uphold same-sex marriage. This decision is troubling as it will overturn voter-imposed state bans on the practice, such as in Missouri. I believe this decision directly removes and marginalizes the will of the people. It undermines the very democratic principle America is founded upon and deprives states of their Tenth Amendment rights. I join many southwest Missourians in expressing frustration with the Court's judgment, as it violates the traditional meaning of marriage.’” [Vote Smart, Accessed 1/3/25]
2022: Billy Long Voted Against Codifying Same-Sex Marriage Rights After The Supreme Court Overturned Roe v. Wade. According to Springfield News-Leader, "In reaction to this suggestion, Congressional Democrats moved to approve a new law guaranteeing same-sex marriage rights even if the Supreme Court removes that right from the Constitution. On July 19, the U.S. House voted 257-157 to approve the Respect for Marriage Act. Ultimate passage of the bill remains undecided in the U.S. Senate. Of the 211 Republicans in the House, only 47 voted to codify same-sex marriage rights. Missouri's Long was not among them." [Springfield News-Leader, 9/12/22]
2018: Billy Long Left A Same-Sex Wedding Shower Out Of Fear Of Being Photographed. According to the Springfield News-Leader, "Standing before the two brides, Billy Long turned to his wife and told her he needed to leave. Then the U.S. Representative walked out of the same-sex wedding shower his family was co-hosting. That's how Ellen Neville-Verdugo remembers the day meant to celebrate her and her wife's engagement. 'It was humiliating,' Neville-Verdugo told the News-Leader. 'That someone would literally run away rather than be in a picture with you. These pictures were only for our memories. They were just for us and our family to look at years down the road and for him to automatically assume that the ‘wrong people’ were going to know he was at a same-sex wedding shower and knew gay people and that that was so abhorrent. It was just really hurtful and humiliating.' " [Springfield News-Leader, 9/12/22]
2020: Former Rep. Chris Collins Was Sentenced To 26 Months In Prison For Insider Trading In Innate Immunotherapeutics. According to WGRZ, "Collins was accused of illegally leaking confidential information about a biopharmaceutical company to his son, Cameron, and Stephen Zarsky, the father of his son's fiancée. Collins was sentenced to 26 months in prison on January 17." [WGRZ, 8/7/20]
2017: The Office Of Congressional Ethics Found "Substantial Reason To Believe” Chris Collins Used Private Information To Attract Investors In Violation Of The Law. According to McAlester News-Capital, "Collins had already been under scrutiny from the Office of Congressional Ethics and House Ethics Committee for allegedly encouraging colleagues to invest in the company. The OCE in October 2017 also found 'substantial reason to believe' that Collins violated federal law and shared private information to solicit investors." [McAlester News-Capital, 8/9/18]
Republican Lawmakers Stated Chris Collins Urged Them To Invest In Innate Immunotherapeutics. According to Vox, "GOP lawmakers told reporters that Collins has urged his colleagues to invest in the company on the House floor. A number of Republican members of Congress, including Texas Reps. John Culberson and Mike Conaway, are also investors in this company." [Vox, 8/9/18]
Billy Long’s Press Secretary Stated Long Purchased Innate Immunotherapeutics After Hearing About It In The News. According to CBS, "On January 25, 2017, Long purchased between $15,001 and $50,000 in Innate stock, according to his financial disclosure form filed with the House clerk. [...] Hannah Smith, press secretary for Long, said, 'Congressman Long did not learn of Innate Immunotherapeutics through a colleague, but rather when it became a daily topic on the nightly news in January of 2017.’” [CBS, 8/9/18]
Billy Long And Chris Collins Served On The Same Subcommittee For The Energy And Commerce Committee In The House. According to CREW, "Two of the new stockholders, Reps. Mullin and Long, are members of the Subcommittee on Health of the House Energy and Commerce Committee along with Rep. Collins. " [CREW, 4/16/21]
2019: Billy Long Stated That “Climate Change Remains The Subject Of Considerable Controversy Both In The Scientific And Political Communities.” According to an opinion by Terry Whaley, in response to a letter on his position on legislation to address climate change, Billy Long stated, “Climate change remains the subject of considerable controversy both in the scientific and political communities.” [Terry Whaley - Springfield News-Leader, 9/7/19]
2014: Billy Long Voted For An Amendment To Prevent Federal Agencies From Studying And Planning For The Costs Of Climate Change. In 2014, Billy Long voted yes on an amendment to, “prohibit use of funds to design, implement, administer or carry out specified assessments regarding climate change.” The amendment was agreed upon by a vote of 229 to 188. [House Roll Call 397, 7/10/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4923, H.Amdt.1040]
2018: Billy Long Mocked Christine Blasey Ford’s Sexual Assault Allegation Against Brett Kavanaugh. According to the Washington Post, “A congressman on Monday retweeted a post mocking Christine Blasey Ford’s sexual assault allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh, in an episode that underscores the politically fraught terrain Republicans face as they weigh their responses to the accusation. On Monday afternoon, one day after The Washington Post published an article in which Ford alleged Kavanaugh assaulted her when the two were in high school in the early 1980s, Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) shared a tweet in which another Twitter user had posted a black-and-white photo of a little boy kissing a little girl on the forehead.” [Washington Post, 9/17/18]
Billy Long In 2016: “During My Time As A Congressman I Have Worked Hard To Dismantle” Obamacare. According to an opinion by Billy Long, “It’s been six years since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed, which is also known as the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. On Sept. 8, Gallup announced the results of a poll conducted Aug. 30-31 in which 51 percent of Americans disapprove of Obamacare while only 44 percent approve. During my time as a Congressman I have worked hard to dismantle this law, which has not lived up to its hyperbole and promises.” [Billy Long - Springfield News-Leader, 9/13/16]
2020: Billy Long Stated He Would Object To The Certification Of The 2020 Election And Falsely Claimed There Were “Abnormalities.” According to a press release by Rep. Jason Smith, Rep. Billy Long, Rep. Sam Graves, and Rep. Vicky Hartzler, “After the election of Speaker and the adoption of the Rules of Congress, the action will quickly move to reading aloud the electoral votes submitted by each state from this past November's election - counting them, and declaring the vote tally for President and Vice President. During that process, the question will be put before your elected officials - does anyone object to the certification of electoral votes of a state. We will object. [...] The reported results of this past November's Presidential election don't even pass the most basic eye test. [...] It's hard to believe. Combined with the daily reports of voting irregularities where state election laws were discarded and not followed, something doesn't add up. President Trump won over 74 million votes, Obama - 69 million. President Trump won 2586 counties, Obama - 873 counties, Joe Biden - 527 counties. The numbers, the evidence, and the abnormalities all speak for themselves.” [Press Release - Rep. Billy Long et. al, 12/31/20]
Billy Long Joined Lawsuit That Attempted To Overthrow 2020 Election. In State of Texas v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Rep. Billy Long filed an Amicus Curaie in support of the Plaintiffs. According to the New York Times, "The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a lawsuit by Texas that had asked the court to throw out the election results in four battleground states that President Trump lost in November, ending any prospect that a brazen attempt to use the courts to reverse his defeat at the polls would succeed. The court, in a brief unsigned order, said Texas lacked standing to pursue the case, saying it 'has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections.'" [Amicus Curaei Brief, “Texas v. Pennsylvania,” United States Supreme Court, 220155, Filed 12/10/20; New York Times, 12/11/20]
Cybersecurity And Infrastructure Security Agency: The 2020 Election “Was The Most Secure In American History.” According to a press release from CISA, “The November 3rd election was the most secure in American history. Right now, across the country, election officials are reviewing and double checking the entire election process prior to finalizing the result. When states have close elections, many will recount ballots. All of the states with close results in the 2020 presidential race have paper records of each vote, allowing the ability to go back and count each ballot if necessary. This is an added benefit for security and resilience. This process allows for the identification and correction of any mistakes or errors. There is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.” [CISA, 11/12/20]