Fatima Hussein.

A former congressman who sponsored legislation to abolish the IRS and is now the nominee to lead that agency has faced pointed questions from senators. Billy Long of Missouri was asked at his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday about his past promotion of questionable tax credits, his lack of background in tax administration and the timing of political contributions he received after being nominated to lead the agency. Long told senators he wants to make “real, transformational change to an agency that needs it more than any other.” Long’s hearing comes as the IRS has hemorrhaged employees and churned through acting leaders.