DONALD L. KORB
Chief Counsel
Internal Revenue Service
                                               
The chief counsel is the chief law officer for the IRS and an assistant general counsel for the Treasury. The chief counsel supervises approximately 1,500 attorneys who are assigned among the IRS National Office and the major operational divisions of the agency. The chief counsel’s office plays a central role in the Administration of the federal tax laws.  Its attorneys provide guidance on the correct legal interpretation of the tax laws, represent the IRS in litigation, and provide all other legal support the IRS needs to carry out its mission of serving American taxpayers. 

Before assuming his current position, Korb was a partner in the taxation practice

Korb’s background includes a combination of both public service and private practice.  From 1984 until 1986, he served as Assistant to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.  During that time he was the overall coordinator of the IRS’ involvement in the legislative process that resulted in the landmark Tax Reform Act of 1986.  Before that, at the beginning of his legal career from 1974 through 1977, Korb was an attorney-advisor in Washington in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, the office he now heads.  During 1995, he served as tax adviser to the National Commission on Economic Growth and Tax Reform (the so-called Kemp Commission).  During 1997 and the first half of 1998, Korb was a tax partner in the big-six accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand.  The rest of his legal career was with the Thompson Hine law firm.

The Honorable Charles B. Rangel
Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means

Congressman Charles B. Rangel is serving his 19th term as the Representative from the 15th Congressional District, comprising East and Central Harlem, the Upper West Side, and Washington Heights/Inwood. He is is the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, Chairman of the Board of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Dean of the New York State Congressional Delegation . 

Congressman Rangel is the principal author of the five billion dollar Federal Empowerment Zone demonstration project to revitalize urban neighborhoods throughout America. He is also the author of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which is responsible for financing ninety percent of the affordable housing built in the U.S. in the last ten years. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which Congressman Rangel also championed, has provided thousands of jobs for underprivileged young people, veterans, and ex-offenders.

As the former chairman of the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control, Congressman Rangel continues to lead the nation's fight against drug abuse and trafficking. In his efforts to reduce the flow of drugs into the United States and to solve the nation's continuing drug abuse crisis, Congressman Rangel serves as chairman of the Congressional Narcotics Abuse and Control Caucus.

Congressman Rangel is a founding member and former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus; he was also chairman of the New York State Council of Black Elected Democrats and was a member of the House Judiciary Committee during the hearings on the articles of impeachment of President Richard Nixon.

Congressman Rangel served in the U.S. Army from 1948-52, during which time he fought in Korea and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Congressman Rangel has authored several pieces of legislation to benefit minority and women veterans, including a successful bill that established the Office of Minority Affairs Within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In 1987, at the height of the battle against apartheid, Congressman Rangel led the effort to include in the Internal revenue Code one of the most effective anti-apartheid measures, denial of tax credits for taxes paid to South Africa. This measure resulted in several Fortune 500 companies leaving South Africa. In addition, Congressman Rangel played a vital role in restoring the democratic government in Haiti.

Congressman Rangel is a graduate of New York University and St. John's University School of Law. He has spent his entire career in public service, first as an Assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and later in the New York State Assembly. He was elected to the 92nd Congress on November 3, 1970, and has been re-elected to each succeeding congress.

Congressman Rangel lives in Harlem with his wife Alma, who is a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses and participates in many civic and community organizations. Congressman and Mrs. Rangel have two children. 

Ronald W. Blasi
Professor, College of Law
Georgia State University

RONALD W. BLASI has over 35 years experience in the field of bank taxation.  He is the author of the CCH U.S. Master Bank Tax Guide, and a Professor at the College of Law, Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he teaches various courses on federal income taxation. Mr. Blasi’s previous positions include: Vice President in charge of tax planning and audits at Chemical Bank (currently J.P. Morgan-Chase), Tax Attorney on the research staff at Citibank, N.A., and an Associate at a New York City tax litigation firm. He has served as a consultant
on bank tax matters for the Internal Revenue Service, the New York State Legislative Tax Study Commission, and various accounting firms, and has served as an expert witness on bank tax matters.

Professor Blasi received a LL.M. (Taxation) from New York University Graduate School of Law and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, a specialization in accounting (APC) from the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration. He has been designated a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) by the National Association of Accountants. Professor Blasi has taught in-house courses on bank taxation for numerous accounting firms, the IRS, FDIC and several financial institutions.