De La Cruz casts first vote against IRS funding increase

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz smiles after she took the oath of office. (Courtesy photo)

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz cast her first vote in office Monday for the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, a push by House Republicans to repeal a Democrat-supported $80 million in funding for the Internal Revenue Service.

While successful in the House, the bill has yet to make it through the Democrat-controlled Senate.

“As a single mom and small business owner, I know how hard families in South Texas work to put food on their tables. That’s why I’m proud that my first vote in Congress was to protect Americans from overreach by the IRS,” De La Cruz, who was sworn in on Saturday, wrote in a statement.

Democrats describe the funding as a way to target wealthy tax cheats while Republicans — De La Cruz included — describe it as a step that would wind up hurting common folk.

“Studies have shown that low-income Americans, minorities, and communities like South Texas are disproportionately hurt by IRS audits while well-connected elites get a pass,” she wrote. “The last thing we need are 87,000 IRS agents harassing South Texans.

“Instead, we need better access to healthcare, life-saving resources for our Border Patrol agents, and tax relief for families and small businesses.”