LIVE THREAD: Congress Begins Investigation into IRS Targeting

C Span | May 17, 2013

[don-o]

The House Ways and Means Committee holds the first Congressional hearing on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) subjecting applicants for tax-exempt status to higher levels of scrutiny based on political leanings.

Witnesses include Acting IRS Commissioner Steve Miller who resigned on Wednesday and the Treasury Department’s Inspector General Russell George for Tax Administration.

Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) said the IRS' targeting of "American taxpayers based on politics is both astounding and appalling." He stated that the Committee will "get to the bottom of this practice and ensure it never takes place again.”

In announcing the hearing, Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) said that it is "essential that there be a thorough and bipartisan investigation and effective remedial action.”

Since June 2011, the Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating whether the Internal Revenue Service discriminated against taxpayers based on political opinions.

[jjotto]

Got a BA at Maryland. Surprisingly little bio on him.

[spokeshave]

And if I were on the panel, at this point I would say, “Mister Chairman, I would like to use my time to allow Mr. Miller to go out to his car and get his notes, or to open a GoToMeeting session on the computer on his desk at the IRS, or to get an open line to the office, or something, geez Mr. Miller, you did know we would be asking you questions today? About the IRS? Where you have been working?”

Maybe he just subcontracted most of his work to some off shore business support group...India...Bangladesh somewhere....

[thouworm]

Thanks for this thread.

Below is a transcript (for the live-thread record) of Mike Kelly's extemporaneous speech--- cross-posted on this separate thread:

Brimming with righteous anger, Mike Kelly drew loud applause and a standing-O from the gallery of people at the IRS hearing. Kelly brought the House down as he spoke extemporaneously for all Americans fearful of an all-powerful IRS being used by an abusive administration as an arm of tyranny.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mike Kelly (R, PA)

"This doesn't come as a great shock to anybody. In fact, I would say it doesn't come as a shock. Do you know what it does for the American people? It really establishes what they have feared so often.

“I have a grandson who is afraid to get out of bed at night because he thinks there’s somebody under the bed that’s going to grab him, and I think most Americans feel that way about the IRS.

“I mean, you get a letter from you folks, or a phone call. It’s with terror that you look at it. And now this kind of reconfirms that.

You know what? They can do almost anything they want to anybody they want anytime they want. This is very chilling for the American people.

"Now I know where you at. You're resigning. You're walking away from it. But this is not going to go away. This is a Pandora’s Box that has been opened, and I don't think we're going to get the lid back on it.

"And I don't believe that the White House just found out about this in the news report. The President happened to grab a TV shot or just read Mr George's report and said, You know what? Anybody ever hear about this before? I'm just getting a first look at this.

"Shouldn't somebody be responsible? And I'm thinking maybe the Executive Office, maybe Treasury falls in there. I'm not sure we understand how that organizational chart works. But, I am really concerned.

“I gotta tell you, where you’re sitting, you should be outraged, but you’re not.

"The American people should be outraged, and they are.

"And this committee, this has nothing to do with political parties. This has to do with highly targeted groups. This reconfirms everything that the American public believes.

“This is a huge blow to the faith and trust that the American people have in their government. Is there any limit to the scope of where you folks can go? Is there anything at all?... Is there any question you shouldn't have asked? My goodness:

How much money do you have in your wallet?
Who do you get emails from?
Whose sign do you put up in your front yard?

"This is a tax question? And you don’t think that’s intimidating? It’s sure as hell intimidating.

And I don't know that I got any answers from you today.... What Mr George has done is great work, but you know what, there is a heck of a lot more that has to come out in this.

And anybody to sit here today and listen to what you have to say. I am more concerned today than I was before. And the fact that you all can do just about anything you want to anybody?

You can put anybody out of business that you want anytime you want.

And I got to tell you, You talked about that you’re a horribly run organization. If you’re on the other side of the fence, you’re not given that excuse. When the IRS comes in, you’re not allowed to be shoddy. You’re not allowed to be run horribly. You’re not allowed to make mistakes. You are not allowed to do one damn thing that doesn't come into compliance. And if you do, you're held responsible right then.

"I just think the American people have seen what's going on right now in their government. This is absolutely an overreach, and this is an outrage for all America.

"I yield back." [Wild applause]
[transcribed by poster]

VIDEO

[freepersup]

Apologies in advance for what might be a repeat of information within, as I am guilty of posting here >>><<< before reading through the entire thread. That being said- I was absolutely enraged to learn of a woman that had the FBI visit her 4 times and agents of the ATF (now ATF SS) and or Department of Homeland Security (now DHS SS) also came to her house related to her activities with regard to the IRS (now IRS SS). I believe she had also been audited. This info. came from one of the congress critters questioning Miller today. The woman in question either had tea party affiliation or was of another targeted group. It was a jaw dropping, mind numbing, blood boiling revelation. I would be imprisoned for revealing my thoughts that were generated... upon hearing/witnessing this revelation.

[freepersup]

A little housekeeping-

I wouldn’t want to leave anyone out with regards to my tarring of aforementioned alphabet soup federal agencies with regards to the SS designation being used frequently and appropriately I might add, by other posters here, so I’ll add the FBI (FBI SS) to my above post.

[don-o]

It seems that many are coming out of the shadows to shine the light. Thanks for the post

[livius]

There’s no information about anybody in Bambi’s regime.

[caww]

....”The best questioning is coming from the most junior GOP members. They did their homework.

I await Kelly to add the passion and anger when he is up next.”.....

Just catching up with this thread...and wow did you call that right with Kelly!

[Art in Idaho]

Thanks for sending the Mark Kelly youtube.

[kelly4c]

Yeah how f’ing ironic that the people of this ilk are the ones who called Sarah Palin “stupid.” Their adored president doesn’t even know what’s going on right under his nose, learns stuff from “the news.” Hope they’re feeling pretty dumb themselves now.

[machogirl]

you can say that again.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks don-o.