Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted he had to laugh when Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) claimed that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had implemented updated technology in recent years.
During a Thursday hearing on Capitol Hill, Bessent fielded questions from a number of House members on the One Big, Beautiful Bill — and he said that while he had “great respect” for Neal, he couldn’t help but be amused by his assertions regarding supposed improvements at the IRS.
WATCH:
????NEW—Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent FACT-CHECKS Democrat Richard Neal!
NEAL: “A professor at Yale has said that this [OBBB] will conservatively cause tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths!”
BESSENT: “I have great respect for you…But respectfully…I chuckled!”
“IT at… pic.twitter.com/BEAFP9dfzN
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 11, 2025
Neal began by claiming that improvements and “technological upgrades” were all thanks to former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, and that “cuts to Medicaid and SNAP” were going to lead to over a million lost jobs.
“A professor at Yale has said that this [OBBB] will conservatively cause tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths!” Neal continued. “Worse health care. Job losses. More borrowed money. The American people deserve considerably better than what we’re being told.”
Neal went on to “challenge” Bessent, saying that the minority side would work with the Trump administration if the bill would direct tax relief specifically to those making less than $400,000 in joint income.
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“Mr. Neal … Representative Neal,” Bessent replied. “I have great respect for you. We’ve had great conversations, but respectfully, if I weigh a thousand pound and you weigh 50 and I gain ten pounds …”
Bessent attempted to explain how the 2017 tax cuts — which have been widely panned by Democrats — lowered taxes for lower income brackets and those with higher incomes shouldered much more of the burden.
“I can’t — I’m sorry, I chuckled when you talked about the IT at the IRS,” Bessent continued. “The program is 35 years behind schedule. 35 years. And is wasting $2 billion a year.”
“That’s why we put the extra money in!” Neal objected.
“No, no, no, no, no! The extra money went in for BODIES!” Bessent fired back. “And whistleblowers acknowledged that standards were being lowered to bring in new agents. Money is not the issue here. It is how the money is spent.”
“That’s exactly right, we agree on that,” Neal interjected. “How the money is spent.”
“And it has been spent poorly,” Bessent replied.