Issue One reacts to “deeply alarming” Senate Finance Committee vote to advance Billy Long’s nomination to lead the IRS

After the Senate Finance Committee voted to advance Billy Long’s nomination to lead the IRS today, Issue One released the following statement:

“It’s deeply alarming that a majority of the Senate Finance Committee voted to advance Billy Long’s nomination, despite his acceptance of tens of thousands of dollars from companies accused of selling fraudulent tax credits — donations that appear aimed at currying favor with the man nominated to lead the IRS,” said Issue One Senior Research Director Michael Beckel.

Beckel continued: “Senators from both parties should reject Long’s nomination when it comes to the floor. Americans deserve leaders who serve the public interest, not those who cash in on public office.”

Ahead of the Senate Finance Committee’s vote, former Rep. Claudine Schneider (R-RI), a member of Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus, also called on senators on both sides of the aisle to oppose Long’s nomination in an op-ed published in The Hill.

“Long’s concerning conduct should disqualify him from leading the IRS,” Schneider wrote. “Leading the IRS is an important task, and one that cannot be politicized. All taxpayers deserve fair treatment, and the agency must be an impartial arbiter of tax collection and tax law enforcement.”

Background

On Dec. 4, 2024, Trump nominated Long to lead the IRS. At the time, Long’s campaign committee from his failed 2022 Senate bid had $130,000 in debt — money that Long had loaned his unsuccessful campaign.

In the days that followed, Long’s campaign committee raised $28,000 and his still-active leadership PAC raised $45,000. Then, in early January, his Senate campaign committee raised another $137,000 — enabling Long to eliminate his debt by paying himself back.

Much of this money came from business executives at companies that have been accused of selling fraudulent tax credits. Without these contributions, Long may have had to eat the cost of these loans to his unsuccessful 2022 Senate campaign.

In the wake of this startling news, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) called for Long’s nomination to be withdrawn, and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) have raised concerns that these contributions may violate federal anti-bribery laws.