On 8/9/2022, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “about the Inflation Reduction Act. Who around here decided that Americans were crying out for more interaction with the IRS?”
KJP: I don’t understand your question. You have to say more.
Doocy: Do you think it’s going to be popular when the 87,000 new employees hired by the IRS go around and start auditing people to pay for the Inflation Reduction Act?
KJP: So it’s very clear. The IRS Commissioner was very clear on this. He said that — on the record, that this only will — it will only apply to those earning over $400K. The Commissioner said, and I quote, “These resources are absolutely not about increasing audit scrutiny on small businesses or middle-income Americans. As we have been planning, our investment of these enforcement resources is designed around… Treasury[’s] directive that audit rates will not rise relative to recent years for households making under $400K.” So this is —
Doocy: So no audits?
KJP: This is focused on those who are, you know, corporate, wealthy tax cheats that congressional Republicans wanted to defend. That’s who they wanted to defend. They wanted to defend those corporate tax cheats. This is not about — this is not about that. This is not about folks who make less than $400K.
Doocy: So new audits on anybody making under $400K a year?
KJP: No. Very clear, no.
Another interesting dialog between Doocy and KJP to start the briefing:
KJP: Good afternoon, everybody.
Doocy: Hi, Karine.
KJP: Hi, Peter. (Laughter.) You’re like that kid in the class.
Doocy: What kid?
KJP: You’re like, I’m expecting an apple — like a nice, shiny red apple.
Reporter: what time did the President learn .. yesterday?
KJP: I don’t have anything to — more to share, Simon. I’ve shar- — I’ve said all that I can about — about the — the topic.
Reporter: Yeah, and then also you said that the President believes in the rule of law. Does he believe in the rule of law when it comes to the former President or even his son?
KJP: I’m not going to — I’m not going to comment any more on —
Reporter: And — and
KJP: — on both of those topics that you just mentioned.
Reporter: So, you’ve pointed out the gas prices are now falling. You said the government spending won’t really affect inflation going forward. So, then, has the American people seen inflation peak? And is it now coming back down?
KJP: Look, what I can tell you is — I explained … As — as it relates to inflation as a whole, what I can speak to is the work that we have been doing and what we have — you know, what we — the plan that we have put forth, including making sure the Federal Reserve has their — has their independence to make sure that they can do the work that they’re doing …
Reporter: On the CHIPS Act, the Intel CFO says that they don’t expect to see the money until the end of 2023. You know, so then, the jobs the President is promising from this act, will they then have to wait until 2024 as the money cycles through?
KJP: Well, I mean, I was kind of clear on this, and we have been for the past several months, and I said this moments ago …
Reporter: But when — for those jobs? When will we see those jobs?
KJP: Well, I think we’ll have more to share. This is the question that I’ve kind of gotten, like, “When are — when are the American people going to feel the impact — impact?” We’ll have details on that very soon …
Reporter: The President this morning stressed that the CHIPS Act will create jobs, will grow the economy. But when will Americans feel the impact of this legislation? When will this law impact supply chains? When might prices go down because of this?
KJP: … we’ll have more details on that — on that soon. But we are working hand-in-hand with private companies … And we’ll have more specifics on when we’ll see a direct effect.
Reporter: The President campaigned on binding up the wounds of the country and restoring norms. And I’m wondering, two years in, if the President believes that he has made progress in restoring the American public’s faith in federal institutions.
KJP: Well, one of the things that we understand and the President understands — and I’ve been asked this question in different variations, and it’s pretty much the same. He — you know, when he — when he ran, he understood that we were in politically polarized environment. He understand that it was going to be a lot of work to bring people together. And I think the work continues, even in his first 18 months. There’s still a lot of work to be done … It’s not like turning the light switch on. And so we’re going to continue to do the work. So there’s no — there’s no “yes” or “no” answer. There is: We’re going to continue to work towards that.
https://facebook.com/HygoNewsUSA/videos/589940619443501/
WH: IRS only audit households earning over $400K; CHIPS Act: no money until end of 2023, no jobs until 2024?