Republicans in the US House of Representatives were "playing politics" when they passed a bill funding aid to Israel and cutting funding to the US Internal Revenue Service by the same amount, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says. The bill stands virtually no chance of passing the US Senate where Democrats hold a majority. Slashing funding to the IRS "would be damaging and irresponsible," Yellen says in a speech at the headquarters of the federal tax collection agency. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES