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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today filed an amendment to the 2013 Farm Bill that would punish Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officials who abuse their power by violating the First Amendment rights of the American people. The amendment is based on similar legislation, the “Taxpayer Nondiscrimination & Protection Act of 2013”, introduced by Rubio last week in the Senate and by Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH) in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The amendment provides for mandatory termination and criminal liability for IRS employees who knowingly violate the constitutional rights of a taxpayer. The need for the legislation is demonstrated by current reports of the IRS deliberately targeting conservative organizations, and the amendment expressly states that political speech and political expression are protected rights.

“This IRS scandal has destroyed the American people’s confidence in this government institution and exposed the dangers of a large, unaccountable government operating under a President and administration that routinely intimidate and harass their political opponents,” said Rubio. “With every new twist and turn in this IRS scandal, one can’t help but think that this is the type of thing that only occurs in third world countries, not in the United States of America.

“Those responsible for this political targeting at the IRS should face all appropriate punishment available under current law, and all organizations and individuals who engage in political speech and expression should be protected against this kind of discriminatory behavior in the future,” added Rubio.

To view the amendment, click here.