Star Trek, Gilligan's Island, reality dance shows … and now Donald Trump. No one is safe from the IRS spoofing them in instructional videos.
Trump's reality show "The Apprentice" was the latest victim of a theme-based IRS training video. Filmed in 2011, the spoof features an IRS official berating his employees while sporting Trump's unparalleled hair style. (Via CBS)
The discovery of the latest film comes on the heels of a series of other parody instructional videos leaked this year, which includes spoofs of the hit 1960s shows Gilligan's Island and Star Trek. (Via MSNBC)
Actor 1: "Back in Russia, I dreamed someday I'd be rich and famous."
Actor 2: ""Me too. That's why I became a public servant."
And this dance competition parody, which seems only to involve IRS employees dancing, and little-to-no tips on how they should do their jobs. (Via Fox News)
But the parodies' cringe-worthiness is not the only wrong the tax agency has been accused of committing here. Members of Congress have scrutinized the agency for what they say is wasteful spending.
The agency testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, admitting the Trump video cost $10,000 to produce, while the Gilligan's Island and Star Trek videos cost a whopping $60,000 — all of which was funded by taxpayer dollars. (Via CNN)
And CBS News reports in total IRS training videos might have "cost taxpayers more than $4 million dollars last year alone."
Chairman of the committee and Louisiana Congressman Charles Boustany Jr. blasted the agency, saying …
"Another day, another example of abuse and waste at the IRS … There is nothing amusing about the American people footing the bill for this rogue and out of control agency … " (Via The Hill)
The IRS says it slashed spending for instructional videos by more than 90 percent the last fiscal year. Neither the Trump parody or the dance competition video was ever shown at a training conference.
- See more at Newsy.com
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