The ABA Tax Section has joined the NYSBA Tax Section (blogged here) in sending a letter to Senate Finance Committee Ranking Minority Member Max Baucus asking that he drop his attempt to block the confirmation of Eric Solomon as Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy unless the Treasury adopts a specific timetable for closing the tax gap [blogged here]:

The ABA does not and cannot endorse any candidate for any office. We believe, however, that the position of Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy should be filled without delay. The position has been vacant since February 2004. This vacancy has had a serious detrimental impact on the development of tax policy and sound administration of the tax law. It is, therefore, imperative that the position be filled at the earliest possible opportunity.

Separately, the Tax Section shares the concerns that you have recently expressed regarding the tax gap. We would welcome the opportunity to work with you and your staff to understand better the sources of the tax gap and to help identify appropriate remedies. We would urge, however, that these concerns not cause delay in filling the position of Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy.