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By Jesse Russell

Plans by the Internal Revenue Service to cut back the hours taxpayers can reach IRS telephone assistance was attacked by the union representing agency employees. President Colleen Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union called the plan an "outrage." The IRS is seeking to reduce hours by 20 percent on January 23, 2006 - the start of tax season. Kelley said the agency is disregarding a congressional mandate that requires an increase in phone lines and staff.