IRS Scandal May prompt Reform

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative political groups has little if anything to do with most everyday taxpayers.

But some lawmakers are hoping the budding scandal will swell public and political support for rewriting and simplifying a tax code so complicated that most people buy software to help them file their returns or hire someone to do it.

Michigan Rep. Dave Camp says the tax law's complexity didn't require the IRS to target people for their political beliefs. But as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, Camp says simplifying the tax code would give the IRS less discretion to do it again.

It won't be easy. Both parties say they favor lower rates and fewer tax breaks. But they haven't yet discussed what breaks to cut.