Rep. Roskam: IRS Has Game Face On, but Not Ready to Run Obamacare

The acting IRS commissioner told a congressional panel Thursday that the tax-enforcement agency is all set to enforce Obamacare on Jan. 1, but at least one member of the House Ways and Means Committee wasn't buying it.

Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., said acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel had his "game face on," but added that he's seen that game face before.

"They have been asked these questions, 'Are you ready?' And (they give) these very declarative assertions. 'Oh, yeah, we're ready. It's game on. No problem,'" Roskam said Thursday night on Fox News Channel's "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren."

The assertions include a "dismissive subtext of, 'How nice for you to be inquiring, but we've got it all under control,'" Roskam said. "And then, lo and behold, you learn the employer mandate's not ready. What else isn't ready?"

He said IRS officials were directly asked if they can guarantee rates will decline $2,500 per family as President Barack Obama promised.

"Crickets. No answer. No direct response," Roskam said. "Hedging and nonsense."

During his testimony, Werfel did note that he doesn't want to participate in Obamacare himself because he likes his current insurance.

Republicans have voiced concern over the IRS being in charge of implementing the health care law since the agency is currently under investigation by Congress for targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status prior to the 2012 presidential election.

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., criticized Obama over his claim that the probe is a "phony scandal."

"It's a fair question because it's the sixth iteration of their defense," Gowdy told Van Susteren. "Usually, you're not successful in front of a jury when you are on your sixth different defense. And if this keeps up they're going to have to apologize to the Menendez brothers. The Menendez brothers' defense is better than 'phony scandal.'"

Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted of killing their wealthy parents in 1989 even though their lawyer pleaded for mercy because they were orphans.