Ex-GOP lawmaker's IRS nomination advances in Senate

Caitlin Reilly, CQ-Roll Call on Jun 3, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

WASHINGTON — The Senate Finance Committee voted along party lines Tuesday to approve President Donald Trump’s nomination of former Missouri Rep. Billy Long to lead the IRS over the objections of Democrats, who cited his ties to firms hawking phony and fraudulent tax credits.

Finance Chairman Michael D. Crapo, R-Idaho, in opening remarks praised the former six-term GOP lawmaker and sought to distance Long from allegations that he had promoted phony “tribal tax credits” as well as questions about recent donations to his 2022 Senate campaign.

Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on Finance, outlined the case against Long in his opening remarks, chiefly that Long lacked tax policy experience while in Congress and since leaving office developed financial ties to shady tax credit promoters.

“He has no tax policy experience, but he has lots of tax fraud experience. When he left office, he threw in with a bunch of fly-by-night operators selling tax deals that were sketchy at best,” Wyden said of Long.

The committee voted 14-13 to approve the nomination, paving the way for consideration on the floor.

After leaving Congress, Long promoted employee retention tax credits enacted during the pandemic, a program so ridden with fraudulent claims, thanks in part to promoters that encouraged businesses to apply regardless of eligibility, that the IRS stopped accepting new claims temporarily.

Long also received payments from Capitol Edge Strategies and White River Energy Corp., according to his financial disclosures. White River Energy, an Arkansas-based oil and gas exploration firm, allegedly promoted phony “tribal tax credits.” Long during his confirmation hearing denied knowing that the tax credits were fake.

The former congressman said he worked through Capitol Edge Strategies, a tax consulting firm, on the tax credits and never met or interacted with anyone at White River Energy. He told the committee his “tax advisory work” was limited to providing referrals, that he never offered tax advice and always advised people to consult with their own attorneys or accountants.

After Trump nominated the former congressman, White River Energy’s chief financial officer and others at the company donated to a campaign fund Long set up for his unsuccessful 2022 run for a Missouri Senate seat. Long used $130,000 of the funds donated this year to pay himself back for a loan he made to the campaign, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures.

“It is not too late for us to tell the Trump administration to go back and find somebody who isn’t surrounded by scandal. Who has experience managing a large organization. Who has real experience with tax policy,” Wyden said.

Crapo defended Long, denying Wyden’s allegations.

“Congressman Long clearly affirmed that all of his tax consulting work was as an independent contractor for Capitol Edge Strategies. He never performed work for White River or anyone else regarding Native American tribal tax credits,” Crapo said. “With respect to the contributions to his Senate campaign, Congressman Long stated time and again that he followed Federal Election Commission guidelines.”

Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, who voted for Long, said ahead of the vote that he found the nominee’s involvement in promoting the tribal tax credits concerning, but couldn’t find other Republicans who agreed.

“I looked into it and checked with a lot of my colleagues to see how much concern there was among my colleagues, and I expressed my concern,” Grassley said Monday evening. “I didn’t find any support for my concern.”