It's things like this which are so aggravating when it comes to "gubmint". It's bad enough it can often be so incompetent, so out of touch with the reality human condition, so costly, and sometimes a danger to those whom it "serves". Too often, as this story demonstrates, it can be downright stupid, indifferent to those who must bear its burdens, and ridiculously self-serving.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A government investigator says the Internal Revenue Service paid $1 million in bonuses to employees who owed back taxes.

An additional 1,700 workers got bonuses even though they had been disciplined for some kind of misconduct within the previous year.

Overall, the IRS's inspector general said the agency paid more than $2.8 million in bonuses from 2010 to 2012 to employees who had conduct issues.

In a report issued Tuesday, the inspector general said the bonus program complied with federal regulations. But, the report said, paying bonuses to workers who owe back taxes conflicts with the IRS mission to enforce tax laws.

The IRS said it has stopped issuing awards to executives with disciplinary problems. The agency said it is considering a similar policy for union workers, subject to negotiations.

Meanwhile their colleagues down the hall were prepared to kill their fellow Americans over an unpaid fine.

http://www.keprtv.com/news/national/IRS-...-256235841.html

This is great news. Now these folks will have the extra money to pay those back taxes.