Amid partisan bickering over the IRS’ political targeting scandal, Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier told the House oversight committee to do something “constructive in nature” so government agencies are not left in a technological Stone Age.
The California Democrat said she was taken aback that IRS officials are still using Windows XP on their computers and lack a sufficient backup system for its emails and documents.
“If there’s one agency where we want to have comprehensive backup, it would be the IRS,” she said.
House investigators are looking into why the IRS lost two years of emails from Lois Lerner, the key figure in a political targeting scandal, after her hard drive crashed in 2011.
A National Archives witness said lackluster systems affect a number government agencies, prompting Ms. Speier to say Congress could be more proactive in updating its tech infrastructure.
Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Virginia Democrat, said Republicans are cutting back the IRS’ budget while expecting them to enhance their systems.
SEE ALSO: Rep. Darrell Issa: IRS has done little for its reputation over last few days
“You can’t have it both ways,” he said.
Mr. Issa said the agency’s information-technology budget has not decreased.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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