Latest news with #TammyDuckworth
CBS News
2 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Duckworth, other congressional lawmakers want answers from IRS on bills being sent for taxes paid
Congressional lawmakers are calling out the IRS for notices the agency sent out telling taxpayers they didn't pay their taxes — even though those taxpayers did, in fact, do so. CBS News Chicago has reported on this problem, and it turns out we are not the only ones having a hard time getting answers from the IRS. U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) said their offices are also both dealing with delays in responses from the IRS about the issue. Duckworth said cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, are to blame. "We are trying to get answers out of the IRS," said Duckworth. Duckworth spoke on behalf of the people from whom CBS News Chicago has been hearing for weeks — from Illinois and across the country — with taxpayers getting bills from the IRS for taxes already paid. For one example, South Dakota couple Laura and Dustin Floyd paid $18,000 on the 2025 tax deadline, so when they got another bill this month for the same amount, even though the money had been taken out of their account in April, they were confused. "It was near-on a panic attack. It was terrifying. I'm still shaky just thinking about it," Laura Floyd said. "You did everything right, you played by the rules, and they come after you saying they lost your money? That you owe the money again? And also you owe fees? That makes for a rough day." Those people then dealt with a runaround when they tried to get a hold of the IRS to fix the problem. "Frankly, it's unacceptable that Illinoisans are receiving erroneous notices that their tax payments are late because of IRS delays," Duckworth said. CBS News Chicago has reported that staffing at the IRS appears to be a part of the problem. The IRS has refused to address CBS News Chicago's questions about job cuts for weeks. But a newly released report by the Taxpayer Advocate Service, or TAS, is revealing — details that 22%, or 9,000, employees who help taxpayers have been cut so far this year. A total of 26%, or around 26,000, are gone agency-wide at the IRS just since January. Duckworth, again, pointed at DOGE. "This is what happens when Elon Musk comes in and fires a bunch of people without looking to see what job they were doing and how vital it is," she said. A smaller staff means longer wait times. The TAS report shows a backlog of nearly 3.5 million individual tax returns — and also reveals an internal issue that could explain why those notices were mailed out in the first place. It turns out the IRS has 60 separate case management systems that do not communicate with each other. "We are going to see the IRS fall further and further behind, and that's not something we can afford as a nation," Duckworth said. This is why Duckworth is sending a letter to newly confirmed IRS commissioner William Long — demanding answers and calling out agency failures. The letter cites CBS News Chicago's reporting. It is signed by Durbin and 12 Democratic Illinois U.S. representatives — Jonathan Jackson, Robin Kelly, Danny Davis, Bill Foster, Jesús "Chuy" García, Delia Ramirez, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Sean Casten, Mike Quigley, Eric Sorensen, Brad Schneider, and Nikki Budzinski. "We're going to push as hard as we can, and we are going to stay on top of this," Duckworth said. CBS News Chicago has been reaching out to the IRS with direct questions and requests for weeks. a spokesperson admitted to processing delays, and said taxpayers should reach out if they don't see payments processed by July 15. The IRS referred questions on staffing to the office National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins, noting also that the office has issued its mid-year report to Congress. The IRS released this statement: "Processing tax payments is a top priority for the IRS. IRS is timely negotiating checks and payments with financial institutions. There is a delay in processing payments that need additional handling to ensure they post to the taxpayers account correctly. Taxpayers may monitor the status of their payments by viewing the payments activity page in their IRS online account where they will be able to view their payment history as well as pending payments that are being processed. If a taxpayer has checked their online account and does not see the payment processed by July 15th, they may call the number on their notice." There was still no information late Thursday on why the agency hasn't addressed
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
House, Senate Republicans Locked on Key Tax Issues
"Balance of Power: Late Edition" focuses on the intersection of politics and global business. On today's show, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender, shares that he isn't worried about higher prices as President Trump's tariff deadline looms. Rep. Erin Houchin (R) Indiana talks about the latest on the Tax Bill as it still is under Senate review and if there is anything the Senate might change that will make her not vote for the legislation. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D) Illinois discusses what she expects to hear from a briefing potentially happening Thursday on last weekend's attack on Iran as reports talk about the impact of the Iran strikes. (Source: Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
President is Lying: Sen. Duckworth on Iran Attack Impact
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D) Illinois discusses what she expects to hear from a briefing potentially happening Thursday on last weekend's attack on Iran as reports talk about the impact of the Iran strikes. She also shares her thoughts on reporting that President Trump will not share the same level of intelligence with Congress over concerns of classified information leaking, and talks about the latest on the Tax Bill. Senator Duckworth speaks with Kailey Leinz and Joe Mathieu on the late edition of Bloomberg's "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)
Reuters
4 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Key Senate Democrats oppose Trump nominee to head Federal Aviation Administration
WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) - Senior Democrats on the Senate committee overseeing aviation said Tuesday they will oppose the nomination of Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to head the Federal Aviation Administration. Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee, and Senator Tammy Duckworth, who is the ranking member of the aviation subcommittee, said they will vote against Bedford's nomination when the committee votes Wednesday. Both cited Bedford's refusal to commit to uphold the 1,500-hour training rule for co-pilots. Earlier this month, Bedford declined to commit to not changing the flight training rule. In 2022, Bedford criticized the FAA's rejection of Republic's petition for allowing only 750 hours of flight experience instead of 1,500 hours. "I would never do anything to compromise safety as administrator," Bedford said earlier this month. A spokesperson for Bedford did not immediately comment. Calls to modernize the nation's air traffic control system intensified after a mid-air collision on January 29 between a U.S. Army helicopter and an American Airlines (AAL.O), opens new tab jet near Washington Reagan National Airport. All 67 people aboard the aircraft died. The regulations to boost flight hours for co-pilots stemmed in part from the February 2009 crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 in upstate New York that killed 50 people. It was the last major U.S. fatal passenger airline crash before the mid-air collision in January. Bedford has sharply criticized the FAA as facing serious leadership, trust and culture issues and has vowed to maintain tough oversight of Boeing(BA.N), opens new tab. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, who was unanimously confirmed to a five-year term in October 2023, stepped down on Jan. 20 when Trump took office. The Trump administration wants at least $20 billion to overhaul air traffic control. One-quarter of all FAA facilities are 50 years old or older and aging systems have repeatedly sparked delays. A persistent shortage of controllers has delayed flights and many controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Duckworth warns Medicaid cuts will impact 60,000 people in Peoria County
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Senate budget bill would kick 60,000 people in Peoria County off Medicaid, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) said at a Thursday press conference with local health care advocates and Medicaid recipients about the consequences of Medicaid cuts. The Senate's version of the budget bill, released Monday, includes even deeper cuts to Medicaid than the House bill. It imposes stiffer work requirements, while the House version provided some exemptions. 'We are, again, at a tipping point where the health and even the lives of millions of Americans are at risk because President Trump and his heartless Republican cronies. Make no mistake, there's no way to fund Trump's $4 trillion in tax cuts for the billionaire class without putting it on the backs of Americans who are already struggling to pay the bills,' said Duckworth. In the state of Illinois, 3.4 million people depend on Medicaid, including nearly 60,000 people in Peoria County. One of those recipients is Dallas Anne Prentice from Chillicothe, a stay-at-home mom with rare genetic disabilities that prevent her from working. Her prescriptions would cost $2,000 without Medicaid. Right now, she pays $40 a month. She said losing her Medicaid benefits would be a death sentence. 'So the consequences are quite literally, I die. I require my medication and my regular health care to be able to simply function, to get out of bed in the morning. And if I lose my health care, my children lose their mother. I am telling you with all honesty, without Medicaid, I wouldn't be alive today. That's not an exaggeration,' she said. The Senate budget bill also caps Medicaid reimbursements to states, which would then have to pick up the tab. In rural areas like Peoria County, Duckworth said Medicaid covers more than 50% of services. 'So, for states that like Illinois, for example, we were the first state in the country that extended post-natal care for a year. We would have to fund 100% of that, when that was more of a matching with the federal government. And so it's a way to push the costs onto the states, which the states can't fund without saying, oh, we're cutting post-natal care,' said Duckworth. Tracy Warner is, executive director of Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network, which represents 60 small and rural hospitals across the state. She said three in four patients at these hospitals depend on Medicaid or Medicare. 'For these hospitals, Medicaid is not a side issue; it's a lifeline. When Medicaid funding is cut, the impact is immediate and painful. More than 40% of rural hospitals in Illinois are operating at a financial loss. These hospitals are already facing low reimbursement rates, workforce shortages, and rising costs,' she said. Medicaid cuts will push these rural hospitals even further into financial distress, Warner said. Hospitals will be forced to make difficult decisions like cutting services and jobs, which will also impact people who are not on Medicaid. 'That ripple does not stop at hospital doors. When a rural hospital cuts services, local jobs are affected, small businesses lose customers, and patients are forced to travel even longer distances for basic care,' she said. 'So that compounding impact, especially on a rural communities, is very real and very significant to the extent that it will be absolutely devastating not only for health care and health care access, but our economies across the state and across the country as well,' added Duckworth. U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) sent a statement to WMBD defending Medicaid cuts in response to Duckworth's presser. 'House Republicans are focused on strengthening and investing in Medicaid for those who need it most by ensuring the program continues to provide high-quality patient care for expectant mothers, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. To protect Medicaid for future generations, we must establish a common-sense approach to address waste, fraud, and abuse. House Republicans have taken a scalpel approach by enacting work requirements for the 4.8 million able-bodied adults without dependents who are choosing not to work and removing 1.4 million illegal immigrants from the program. I remain committed to supporting rural and underserved communities and prioritizing care for our nation's most vulnerable populations.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
