Members of the conference committee on IRS reform legislation are scheduled to meet this afternoon at 4 p.m. amid optimism they can work out their differences quickly. "We will work it out by the end of the month," said Senate Judiciary Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
But the issue of whether to allow a member of the National Treasury Employees Union to sit on the oversight board the legislation would create remains unresolved. Both the House and Senate bills provide for union representation, but a majority of the conferees oppose the provision, including Senate Finance Chairman William Roth, R-Del.
Despite possible efforts by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., to alter that provision in conference, Roth said he would support the Senate bill.
Congressional aides have said it is increasingly unlikely conferees would outright reverse the position taken by both chambers. It is possible, however, that the rights and responsibilities of the union representative could be the subject of discussions for the conferees.
"The House members feel strongly that there should be a union person on the board," said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. "I may be the only senator who agrees, but it will have to be done."
Hatch, who is regarded as a swing vote on the provision, acknowledged that "this is still a problem."
Grassley also predicted the Senate would accept the House position on guidelines on interaction between the Congress and the IRS when new laws are being considered by Congress.
Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who was the lead sponsor of the bill in the House, has argued the provision would help make clear when proposed tax laws would be difficult to administer or have unintended consequences for taxpayers.
The conference meeting today is expected to feature only opening statements.
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