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Comment by Mountain_Skies | Hacker News Reader

Democrats have the opportunity to change that. Every time Republicans are in charge, the Democrats scream loudly about letting the IRS offer their own free tax filing service and blame Republicans for it not happening. The IRS is trying again right now to offer free filing and the Democrats are in charge of Congress and the presidency. They can make this happen or they can let the IRS's work go to waste and reserve this issue for screaming at Republicans again next time they have control over the White House or part of Congress.

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Democrats have not been in charge for a couple decades or more.

Manchin has long not toed the line with Democrats, and Sinema is officially not a Democrat, so they are not even at 50 senate votes. And they are the minority in the House, so they clearly do not have any control of Congress.

You also need 60 votes in the Senate for whatever reason, which they are nowhere close to. The last time sort of had it, which was again a heavily compromised 60 votes, was Jun to Dec 2009 during which time PPACA was passed.

For anyone curious, Wikipedia has a great article[1] showing party trifecta history in Congress (though keep in mind what lotsofpulp said about needing 60 votes in the Senate for true control, which is rare for both parties).

And when Democrats were stronger in Congress earlier in Biden's term they did pass legislation giving funding to the IRS to explore developing software for doing taxes (Sec. 10301 (1)(B) of the Inflation Reduction Act[2]).

Further, when Republicans forced the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 during the last debt ceiling increase "crisis" they specifically listed (1)(B) as part of their recension of funds[3], though I don't think it had any meaningful impact because the study had already been made and released. [4]

Because $15,000,000 was a really big deal to the federal deficit. /s

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_divisions_of_United_Stat...

[2] https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-117publ169/html/PLA...

[3] https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-118publ5/html/PLAW-...

[4] https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-submits-direct-file-report-...

> The IRS is trying again right now to offer free filing and the Democrats are in charge of Congress and the presidency.

No, Democrats are not in charge of Congress; Republicans have a majority in the House of Representatives and Democrats have a narrow majority, relying on two members that fairly consistently undermine Democratic policy priorities, in the Senate (and even without that problem don't have the 60 votes it takes to move normal legislation over a filibuster in the Senate.)

Are you assuming Democrats are inherently good and well-meaning and could not make this happen due to a missed opportunity?

Because corruption goes both ways. There's a reason one party blames the other for X when the other is in power, and then do nothing about X when they are in power.

I agree with you. The Democrats and Republicans in our government mostly agree on the topic we are discussing in this thread.

There is no radical movement discussed within our government to actually solve these problems. No politician is making serious attempts to improve our bureaucratic system.

The Inflation Reduction Act directed the IRS to create a feasibility study on direct file

"The report focuses on three areas: taxpayer opinions, cost and feasibility. The report also includes an analysis conducted by an independent third party, as required by the statute. The report also lays out the potential benefits and challenges associated with the IRS implementing a Direct File program."

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-submits-direct-file-report-...

It's really funny when a party is in power and they have to pretend to be "working hard" but the goal is obviously to maintain the status quo.

Almost had them with force the vote.

Democrats complained about healthcare

Obama pushed the ACA (Obamacare), had to compromise to get it passed, later it was gutted by Republicans, with key provisions remaining

1. Children can remain on parent's healthcare plan until 26

2. Insurance companies can't deny coverage for existing diseases

Republicans almost got rid of these provisions and it was saved by one vote from John McCain who did it out of spite and not because he agreed with the ACA [1]

[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/health/obamacare/mccain-hated-obamac...

That has nothing to do with force the vote. Force the vote proved establishment democrats are never going to even try to give you healthcare. They are terrified of a medicare for all vote hitting the floor when they have a majority.

How did it prove that?

They fought kicking and screaming to not have to bring a medicare for all vote to the floor. If they wanted it, you'd expect the opposite, but that never happens.

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