Good afternoon, everybody. I just finished speaking with Secretary Lew and senior officials at the Treasury Department to discuss the investigation into IRS personnel who improperly screened conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. And I look forward to taking some questions at tomorrow’s press conference; but today I wanted to make sure to get out to all of you some information about what we’re doing about this, and where we go from here. 大家下午好。我刚与卢财长和财政部高级官员通话，讨论国税局人员不当审查申请免税资格的保守派团体一事的调查。明天的记者会上，我期待回答大家的提问；今天我想先向各位说明我们正在采取哪些措施，以及下一步该怎么做。
I’ve reviewed the Treasury Department watchdog’s report, and the misconduct that it uncovered is inexcusable. It’s inexcusable and Americans are right to be angry about it, and I am angry about it. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior in any agency, but especially in the IRS, given the power that it has and the reach that it has into all of our lives. And as I said earlier, it should not matter what political stripe you’re from; the fact of the matter is, is that the IRS has to operate with absolute integrity. 我已经审阅财政部监察长的报告，其中揭露的不当行为不可原谅。美国人民理应为此愤怒，我也同样愤怒。我不能容忍任何政府机构有这种行为，尤其不能容忍国税局这样做，因为它拥有的权力及其对我们每个人生活的影响都十分巨大。正如我先前所说，无论你的政治立场是什么，国税局都必须以绝对正直的方式运作。
The government generally has to conduct itself in a way that is true to the public trust. That’s especially true for the IRS. 政府总体上必须以不辜负公众信任的方式行事。对国税局来说尤其如此。
So here’s what we’re going to do. First, we’re going to hold the responsible parties accountable. Yesterday I directed Secretary Lew to follow up on the IG audit to see how this happened and who is responsible, and to make sure that we understand all the facts. Today, Secretary Lew took the first step by requesting and accepting the resignation of the acting commissioner of the IRS, because given the controversy surrounding this audit, it’s important to institute new leadership that can help restore confidence going forward. 因此，我们将采取以下措施。第一，追究责任人的责任。昨天我已指示卢财长根据监察长的审计报告继续调查，查明事情如何发生、谁应负责，并确保掌握全部事实。今天，卢财长采取了第一步：要求并接受国税局代理局长辞职。鉴于这份审计报告引发的争议，任命新领导对于今后恢复公众信任至关重要。
Second, we’re going to put in place new safeguards to make sure this kind of behavior cannot happen again. And I’ve directed Secretary Lew to ensure the IRS begins implementing the IG's recommendations right away. 第二，我们将建立新的防范措施，确保这类行为不再发生。我已指示卢财长确保国税局立即着手落实监察长的建议。
Third, we will work with Congress as it performs its oversight role. And our Administration has to make sure that we are working hand in hand with Congress to get this thing fixed. Congress, Democrats, and Republicans owe it to the American people to treat that authority with the responsibility it deserves and in a way that doesn’t smack of politics or partisan agendas -- because I think one thing that you’ve seen is, across the board, everybody believes what happened in...as reported in the IG report is an outrage. 第三，我们将配合国会履行监督职责。政府必须与国会携手解决这个问题。国会中的民主党人和共和党人都应对美国人民负责，审慎行使监督权，避免让调查沾染政治算计或党派议程。我认为大家已经看到，各方都认为监察长报告中所述的事情令人愤慨。
The good news is it’s fixable; and it’s in everyone’s best interest to work together to fix it. 好消息是，这个问题可以解决；共同努力解决它符合所有人的利益。
I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing like this happens again by holding the responsible parties accountable, by putting in place new checks and new safeguards, and going forward, by making sure that the law is applied as it should be -- in a fair and impartial way. And we’re going to have to make sure that the laws are clear so that we can have confidence that they are enforced in a fair and impartial way, and that there is not too much ambiguity surrounding these laws. 我会竭尽全力，追究责任、建立新的检查和防范机制，确保类似事情不再发生。今后还要保证法律得到应有的执行，以公平、公正的方式适用。我们也必须确保法律条文清晰明确，避免过多歧义，才能相信它会得到公平、公正的执行。
So that’s what I expect. That’s what the American people deserve. And that’s what we’re going to do. 这就是我的要求，也是美国人民应得的交代。我们会这样做。
Thank you very much. 非常感谢。
