House Dems Say No to Switching Funds for 87,000 New IRS Agents to Hire More Border Patrol Agents

House Rules Committee Democrats killed an amendment offered by Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) that would have redirected billions of tax dollars that the Senate has slated for hiring 87,000 new IRS agents to instead hire thousands of new border security personnel.

No changes were allowed by the Democratic majority to the Senate version of the Inflation Reduction Act approved by the Senate on Aug. 7 in a 51–50 vote; Vice President Kamala Harris cast the deciding vote in the evenly split chamber.

“If we amend this, it basically derails the bill … any amendment at this point derails the bill,” committee Chairman Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said during the five-hour meeting.

The vote by the House on the Senate version could come as early as Aug. 11 or, more likely, on Aug. 12. The measure includes $80 billion to hire the additional IRS agents—an expansion that would double the federal tax agency’s workforce.

The committee’s rejection of the Budd proposal spared Democrats from a vote that would have put them on record favoring either doubling the size of the IRS or taking dramatic measures for restoring control of the U.S. southern border, where record numbers of illegal immigrants have flooded into the country, along with unprecedented amounts of illegal, deadly drugs, including fentanyl.

With President Joe Biden’s popularity at record low levels, Republicans appear headed to regain the House majority in November’s midterm elections and could retake control of the Senate as well. With inflation roaring at the worst levels since 1981 and most Americans struggling to keep up with spiraling gas and food prices, voting to double the size of the federal tax agency could hurt Democrats who are facing tough reelection campaigns.

Budd couldn’t be reached for comment on the committee’s refusal to allow debate on his amendment.

“Instead of hiring

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