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Billy Long
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Presumptive nominee
Assuming office TBD
President	Donald Trump
Succeeding	Daniel Werfel
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 7th district
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Roy Blunt
Succeeded by	Eric Burlison
Personal details
Born	William Hollis Long II (1955-08-11) August 11, 1955 (age 69) Springfield, Missouri, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Barbara Long ​(m. 1984)​
Children	2
Education	University of Missouri (attended)

William Hollis "Billy" Long II (born August 11, 1955) is an American politician, lobbyist and former auctioneer who served as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2023. He is the presumptive nominee to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.

A member of the Republican Party, Long was elected to fill the district's seat in 2010, succeeding Roy Blunt upon his election to the U.S. Senate. The district included much of the southwestern quadrant of the state and was anchored in Springfield. It also included Joplin and Branson. After Blunt announced that he would not run for reelection to the Senate in 2022, Long became a candidate in the 2022 race to succeed him, but lost the Republican primary to Eric Schmitt.

Long was an early enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump. On December 4, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Long to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Unlike prior IRS commissioners, Long lacks background in the tax industry. Long has previously called for abolishing the IRS, as well as replacing much of the tax code with a flat tax.

Early life and education

According to Long, he is a fourth-generation native of Missouri.He was born in Springfield in 1955. He attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri but did not graduate. Long later attended a training program at the prestigious Missouri Auction School in Kansas City. He received his Certified Auctioneer designation via the National Auctioneers Association.

Career

Long was an auctioneer and owned Billy Long Auctions, LLC. He was named "Best auctioneer in the Ozarks" for seven years in a row. He was also a talk radio show host on the Springfield-based station KWTO. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, National Auctioneers Association, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the National Rifle Association of America, and the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors.

U.S. House of Representatives

Long was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023.

Long was among the 75 Republican cosponsors to the Fair Tax Act (H.R. 25/S. 18), first introduced in 2015 by Representative Rob Woodall (R-GA) and then again in 2017. The bill would have phased out all IRS funding and abolished the IRS in 2019. It also would have scrapped the income tax system and replaced it with a 23% national retail sales tax primarily administered by the states.

During a September 2018 House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on alleged anti-conservative bias on social media, far-right internet personality Laura Loomer interrupted the meeting. Long began a mock auction chant pretending he was selling Loomer's mobile phone until she was escorted out. The incident generated considerable laughter and applause from the audience.

Tax consulting

While Long is not an accountant or CPA, he has been involved in tax advising since leaving Congress. In a 2023 podcast, for example, he touted his work helping businesses use the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), a credit that the IRS has discontinued accepting claims for because of its high rate of fraud. On his X profile, Long describes himself as a "Certified Tax & Business Advisor" who can help clients save on their taxes.

Nominated as Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service

On December 4, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Long to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. During his time in Congress, Long repeatedly sponsored bills to abolish the IRS.

Long's nomination was met with mixed response. A Wall Street Journal editorial stated: "Running the Internal Revenue Service is a thankless task, but tackling security, technology and other problems at the agency would be a public service. President Trump’s pick to run the IRS can save taxpayers billions of dollars and millions of headaches. Billy Long can curb the agency’s spending and boost its security." Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) criticized what amounted to firing the current IRS commissioner Danny Werfel before his term ended in 2027, and Long's involvement with the scam-plagued ERC. House Representative Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves on the House Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee, echoed his support for Werfel to complete his term, and dismay at Long's lack of qualifications and previous efforts to eliminate the agency he was nominated to lead. .

Political positions

Donald Trump

Long was an early enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump, even claiming to have coined the phrase “getting on the Trump train." Trump has praised him, saying “He (Billy) is an extremely hard worker, and respected by all, especially by those who know him in Congress.”

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Donald Trump refused to concede, Long pushed Trump's false claims of voter fraud in the election. In December 2020, Long supported an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the election based on allegations of fraud.

Long supported President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order banning entry to the U.S. to citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.

LGBT rights

In 2015, Long condemned the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which held that same-sex marriage bans violated the constitution.

Election history

2010

Republican primary

Long joined the race for the 7th Congressional District after incumbent U.S. representative Roy Blunt chose to run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kit Bond. In the crowded seven-way Republican primary—the de facto election in the state's most Republican district—Long won with 36% of the vote.

General election

2012

2014

In the August 5 Republican primary, Long defeated Marshall Works, 62.4% to 37.6%.

2016

In the August 2 Republican primary, Long defeated Nathan Clay, Christopher Batsche, Matthew Evans, Lyndle Spencer, Matthew Canovi, James Nelson and Mary Byrne.

2018

In the Republican primary, Long defeated Jim Evans, Lance Norris, and Benjamin Holcomb. In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Jamie Schoolcraft, who had defeated Kenneth Hatfield, John Farmer de la Torre, and Vincent Jennings in the Democratic primary.

2020

In the August 4 Republican primary, Long defeated Eric Harleman, Kevin VanStory, Steve Chetnik and Camille Lombardi-Olive.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Power
  • Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Health
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
• Committee on Homeland Security
• Republican Steering Committee

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional Constitution Caucus
• U.S.-Japan Caucus

Personal life

Long has participated in the World Poker Tour.

References

1. "Obituary for William H. Long". Archived from the original on 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2018-12-24.
2. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
3. Fields, Ashleigh (2024-12-04). "Donald Trump names Billy Long as IRS head". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
4. Erb, Kelly Phillips. "Trump Picks Former Representative Billy Long As Next IRS Commissioner". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
5. Gomez, Henry J. (August 2, 2022). "Eric Schmitt wins GOP primary for Senate in Missouri, defeating former Gov. Greitens". NBCNews.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
6. ^ "Donald Trump picks Missouri's Billy Long to lead the IRS". Missouri Independent. 2024-12-04.
7. ^ "What to know about Billy Long, the ex-congressman and auctioneer Trump wants to head the IRS". CBS News. 2024-12-06. Archived from the original on 2024-12-19. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
8. ^ Leddy, Maureen (2024-12-09). "Werfel, Lawmakers React to Trump's IRS Commissioner Pick". Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
9. Lobosco, Katie (2024-12-05). "What Trump's plan to replace the current IRS chief could mean for the agency | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
10. "About Billy Long". Billy Long for Congress. 2010-11-02. Archived from the original on 2011-09-10. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
11. ^ "Meet Vicky". billyforcongress.com. 2020-08-17. Archived from the original on 2020-08-17.
12. "Candidate Details: Billy Long". ourcampaigns.com. 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
13. "Congressman drowns out protester with auction call in Twitter hearing". CBS News. 5 September 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
14. "Watch: A fast-talking auctioneer-turned-Congressman drowned out this far-right protester". PBS NewsHour. Associated Press. September 5, 2018. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
15. Watkins, Eli (5 September 2018). "Congressman uses old auctioneer skills to drown out protester during hearing". CNN. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
16. Fields, Ashleigh (2024-12-04). "Donald Trump names Billy Long as IRS head". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
17. "A To-Do List for Trump's IRS Man". The Wall Street Journal. 2024-12-10. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
18. "Trump's pick for IRS commissioner, former congressman Billy Long, receives mixed response from Washington, tax community". NBC News Chicago. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
19. "Presidential Election Results 2020: Biden Wins". The New York Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
20. Shepherd, Katie (November 6, 2020). "GOP splits over Trump's false election claims, unfounded fraud allegations". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
21. Huguelot, Austin (November 12, 2020). "Top Missouri Republicans embrace Trump's resistance to election results". Rolla Daily News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020.
22. Court document supremecourt.gov
23. "We Will Object". U.S. Representative Billy Long. 31 December 2020.
24. Blake, Aaron (January 31, 2017). "Whip Count: Here's where Republicans stand on Trump's controversial travel ban". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 29, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
25. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-04-12.
26. "2014 Missouri House Primaries Results". Politico. August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
27. "Missouri's 7th Congressional District election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
28. "Billy Long". Ballotpedia.
29. "Missouri's 7th Congressional District election, 2020". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
30. "All Results State of Missouri - State of Missouri - General Election, November 03, 2020". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
31. "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
32. "Members". Congressional Constitution Caucus. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
33. "Members". U.S. - Japan Caucus. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart

• 1955 births
• American auctioneers
• Candidates in the 2022 United States Senate elections
• Living people
• Politicians from Springfield, Missouri
• Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri
• 21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
• Second Trump administration personnel