House Passes Bills Highlighting IRS Controversy

The House has passed three bills designed to highlight complaints that the IRS mistreated conservative political groups when they applied for tax-exempt status. 

One bill forbids IRS workers from using personal email accounts to conduct official business. Another bill guarantees groups that are denied tax-exempt status the right to appeal the decision to a separate IRS office. 

The third bill addresses complaints from groups that have had their confidential taxpayer information improperly disclosed by IRS employees. The bill allows the IRS to tell victims about the status of investigations into the disclosures. Current law forbids the IRS from releasing such information. 

The House passed all three bills Tuesday on voice votes that did not require lawmakers to cast recorded votes.

The bills have little chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate.