President Barack Obama is ordering a new crackdown on federal contractors who don't pay their taxes.
He was to sign an executive order Wednesday telling federal agency chiefs to take steps to bar those companies from receiving new government contracts. Obama was also directing the IRS to review contractor filings to ensure the companies are not lying about the taxes they've paid.
A White House fact sheet said the move is part of the president's effort to restructure government contracting to root out waste and abuse.
That effort has included measures to end no-bid contracts and to crack down on what the administration deems improper payments. Administration officials estimate the measures saved as much as $100 billion last year.
The White House said Obama is also urging Congress to give the administration additional tools to ensure tax dollars don't benefit companies that are in arrears to Uncle Sam. Among the powers being sought: allowing the IRS to share tax data with agency contracting chiefs to help officials catch tax scofflaws.
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