Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan launched a new television ad as part of his congressional re-election bid on Tuesday, slamming the Internal Revenue Service over noncompliance with federal investigators.
“The IRS tells you to hang on to seven years of your personal tax information, but they can’t even keep six months of employee emails,” the former vice presidential nominee said, adding, “It’s time to clean house at the IRS.”
In the 30-second ad, his first of the 2014 election cycle, Mr. Ryan, blasts the IRS for targeting conservative nonprofit groups. Mr. Ryan is chairman of the House Budget Committee and serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, which some Congress-watchers expect he will chair beginning next year — making his comments on the IRS all the more important.
“I’m Paul Ryan, and I may get audited for approving this message, but it would be worth it,” Mr. Ryan said at the end of the ad.
Mr. Ryan a potential 2016 presidential candidate, also used the ad to repeat his recent calls for tax code reform.
Mr. Ryan is expected to win re-election to his House seat this year. He has not declared whether or not he will seek the presidential nomination in 2016.
According to polling data from Real Clear Politics, Mr. Ryan is ranked fourth among possible 2016 Republican candidates.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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