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Washington (CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump has named Billy Long, a former Republican congressman from Missouri, to head the Internal Revenue Service, signaling plans to oust current Commissioner Danny Werfel before his term expires in 2027. Replacing Werfel, who was picked by President Joe Biden, could mean a major shift at the agency, which has been undergoing a massive transformation that’s become a political football in Washington. Democrats have argued the agency, after facing years of budget cuts, needs more money to go after tax cheats and modernize its technology. And Republicans, many of whom – including Long – have supported shutting down the agency altogether , are skeptical that new enforcement actions won’t unfairly target middle-class Americans. Last year, Republican lawmakers successfully clawed back $20 billion of the $80 billion provided to the IRS by the Democrat-backed Inflation Reduction Act that passed in 2022. Further cuts to the IRS’ budget could be a priority for Trump, who has put Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in charge of a new commission to cut federal spending . While the Inflation Reduction Act spells out how much money can be used for enforcement activities and taxpayer assistance, it’s largely up to the IRS, which is housed in the Department of Treasury, to decide how exactly the money is spent . One of the biggest projects under Werfel – the launch of a free tax filing program called Direct File – doesn’t have the backing of many GOP lawmakers, some of whom have criticized the program as “illegitimate and unnecessary.” There are Republicans who have also voiced concern about the effort to ramp up enforcement. Some, including Trump , have misleadingly suggested that the IRS is hiring 87,000 new auditors to target middle-class Americans and small business owners. But Democrats say the IRS needs the influx of money to successfully go after tax cheats. Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act, the agency did not have the staffing or resources to pursue high-income earners that the agency knew owed taxes, Werfel said earlier this year . So far, the IRS has collected nearly $1.3 billion in overdue taxes from wealthy households due to the new enforcement efforts. Less controversial efforts undertaken under Werfel’s leadership have been aimed at making it easier for Americans to file their federal taxes, like hiring thousands more customer service representatives and updating the agency’s archaic technology so that it can digitize paper forms . The independent Congressional Budget Office and other budget experts say that spending money on tax enforcement can reduce the deficit by bringing in more tax revenue. Long served 12 years in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023. He ran unsuccessfully for a Senate seat in 2022. During his time in Congress, Long served on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Homeland Security Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – but not on the House’s main tax-writing committee. He co-sponsored, along with dozens of other Republicans, bills to abolish the IRS and replace the federal income tax system with a national sales tax. Long currently works as a certified tax and business adviser, according to his X bio . “DM me to save 40% on your taxes. We have a new traunch of tax credits just out!” it says. “Since leaving Congress, Billy has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations,” Trump said in a statement Wednesday announcing his pick. In the private sector, Long has been helping people file for the employee retention tax credit, a pandemic-era benefit. The IRS temporarily paused processing of those claims in 2023 amid concerns of fraud . In a 2023 podcast interview , Long talked about how he only helps people who are eligible to claim the tax credit. “If they don’t qualify, we do not tell them they do. And we do not to get them through the process,” he said. “Taxpayers and the wonderful employees of the IRS will love having Billy at the helm. He is the consummate ‘people person,’ well respected on both sides of the aisle,” Trump said in his statement. A former professional auctioneer, Long once used his skills to drown out a protester who was disrupting a committee hearing on Capitol Hill. The-CNN-Wire TM & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.8. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
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In a statement released shortly after the incident, Alibaba Group confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and that no employees were injured in the blaze. The company also reassured customers that no data loss occurred as a result of the fire. Alibaba Cloud, which provides cloud computing services to businesses and organizations around the world, pledged to work diligently to restore all affected services and minimize any disruptions for its customers.4. Blocked or poorly maintained chimneys: Fireplaces and wood-burning stoves can also be sources of carbon monoxide if the chimney is blocked or not properly maintained. Debris, soot, and other obstructions in the chimney can prevent the proper venting of gases, leading to a buildup of carbon monoxide in the home. Make sure to have your chimney cleaned and inspected regularly to avoid this hazard.In addition, both players have showcased incredible maturity and composure on and off the field, despite their young age. Mbappe's leadership qualities and ability to perform in high-pressure situations have earned him praise from fans and pundits alike. Similarly, the Barcelona signing demonstrated a level of maturity beyond his years, handling the pressure of playing for a top club with ease.Japan's economy has recently shown signs of a robust recovery, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate experiencing an upward trajectory. This positive momentum has sparked speculations and discussions about the potential timing for the Bank of Japan to consider raising interest rates in response to the strengthening economic conditions.
The Israeli government cited security concerns as the reason for the airstrikes, claiming that they were targeting sites used by Iranian-backed militias to store weapons and launch attacks against Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes were a necessary response to the threat posed by these militias and their activities in Syria.
In the esports realm, the final list of the TGA Player's Voice awards also includes recognition for outstanding players and teams in various competitive gaming titles. From legendary players in games like Dota 2 and League of Legends to rising stars in Valorant and Call of Duty, the esports community is abuzz with speculation over who will come out on top in this year's awards ceremony.