Posted on 05/23/2013 4:32:59 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
See for yourself. Issa’s committee was told last year that the report would be ready in September, two months before the election. Eight months later, the bomb finally dropped. Why? Did the IG initially underestimate the volume of malfeasance and how long it would take to dig it up? Or are there other, more cynical reasons?
Even if the report wasn’t ready, Issa claims the IG had a statutory obligation to keep Congress updated on its findings as they were made. He didn’t. Why not?
Issa is referring to part of the Inspector General Act that requires watchdogs to report serious problems to Congress through the head of an agency within seven days. It’s known as the “seven-day rule” — but it’s often used sparingly.
The Oversight Committee asked the inspector general about conservative group targeting a number of times, and Issa read some of the emails in the hearing Wednesday.
George also raised concerns that incremental information provided to lawmakers would ultimately leak to the public.
“That is not fair to the people we are investigating,” George said.
Issa responded that the White House is the source of plenty of leaks as well.
Issa himself said a few days ago that he knew last year “approximately” what would be in the report, but it’s one thing to think you know based on a leak and another for the IG to confirm it with an update. Here’s the real question: Why was George, the IG, reluctant to release “incremental information” when the IRS itself had concluded in May 2012 that its anti-conservative criteria for tax-exempt orgs were FUBAR? Didn’t his office specifically say they’d keep the committee updated? (“We would be happy to provide a status update to the Subcommittee staff and provide a copy of our interim and final reports on the matter when they are issued.”) More from Issa:
‘Just yesterday the committee interviewed Holly Paz, the director of exempt organizations, rulings and agreements, division of the IRS,’ Issa said. ‘While a tremendous amount of attention is centered about the Inspector General’s report, or investigation, the committee has learned from Ms. Paz that she in fact participated in an IRS internal investigation that concluded in May of 2012 – May 3 of 2012 – and found essentially the same thing that Mr. George found more than a year later.’
‘Think about it,’ he continued: ‘For more than a year, the IRS knew that it had inappropriately targeted groups of Americans based on their political beliefs, and without mentioning it, and in fact without honestly answering questions that were the result of this internal investigation.’
We already knew that, more or less, from the results of the IG report itself. Check the timeline on page 13. The media starts picking up reports of tea-party complaints in February 2012, and soon thereafter the director of the exempt organizations puts a halt to IRS demands for more intrusive info from conservative groups. Three months later, in May, they hold a “workshop” providing guidance on tax-exempt groups to its analysts and approv more neutral criteria for scrutinizing applications. That’s probably why Issa’s committee had an inkling at the time — because the IRS itself already knew it had done wrong and was moving to undo it to some extent. And yet no one, including the IG, felt moved to confirm for the committee until this month that yes, “mistakes were made” and it was now safe to tell the public that.
But the election’s over, so it’s safe now.
Mark talked about it on his show last night. I am unsure if or where you can read it. Mark makes his radio archives free to listen. Just search the web
for it.
Oh Oh this can’t be true....But now we have to connect the dot’s back to the White House. I wonder if this person BOB BAUER— White House General Counsel that was written about in yesterday’s WSJ by Has anything to do with the IRS Scandal.
Bob Bauer, the Obama campaign (and later White House) general counsel, wrote letters to the Department of Justice in August 2008 attacking a conservative 501(c)4 called the American Issues Project for running an ad that highlighted Obama’s connection to former Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers. Bauer did not stop there; he also contacted the Federal Election Commission. That same month, a left-wing activist created a 501(c)4 called Accountable America that was designed to intimidate GOP donors.
Bob Bauer in his own words
http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2010/bob-bauer-his-own-words/
By Bill Allison Aug 10 201012:36 p.m.
Robert F. Bauer, who will take on part of the responsibilities of Norm Eisen, the departing Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform, has a long and storied career in Washington. He has represented the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Kerry and Obama presidential campaigns, and 527 organizations like Vote Now and America Coming Together. He’s defended Democratic politicians who ran into ethics trouble, including former Rep. Tony Coelho and former Sen. Robert Torricelli—both of whom were forced to give up their offices as ethics charges mounted against them. He’s filed ethics complaints against Republican and Republican-leaning organizations, most spectacularly when he prepared a complaint alleging racketeering on the part of former Republican Majority Leader Rep. Tom DeLay for extortion (for his aggressive fundraising), money laundering and illegally coordinating with section 527 groups to evade campaign finance laws. The suit was later dropped.
Thanks mostly to Lexis-Nexis and his own blog, here are a few choice quotes from Robert Bauer over the years. In reverse chronological order:
This came up right around when FR went down bump
More on Bauer.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bob-bauer/gIQAgz4w6O_topic.html
Outgoing White House Counsel (December 2009 to June 2011)
Why He Matters
Bauer is one of the nation’s pre-eminent experts on election and campaign finance law, and his views are enormously influential with Democrats.
Married to Anita Dunn.
Another article:
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/11/28/democratic-lawyerobama-advisor-bob-bauer-to-teach-at-nyu/
Bauer is returning to New York University Law School this spring to teach a seminar on political reform.
The course will encompass campaign finance, lobbying laws, voting rights and more—topics Mr. Bauer has had ample exposure to during his 30 years of practice as a lawyer, which include stints working for political campaigns and the Democratic National Committee.
It gets better. Read the end of this paragraph.
During his time on the campaign trail, Mr. Bauer led challenges to new voter laws backed by Republicans—including suing the state of Ohio in July—and lobbied the Federal Election Commission to allow individuals to text in donations (as did his Romney counterpart). Mr. Bauer also sought to compel the well-funded Republican advocacy group Crossroads GPS to disclose the names of its donors, citing millions of dollars the group has spent on campaign ads attacking Democrats.
This is the guy who pulled the chains with the IRS on behalf of the White House.
Obama Strikes again!
You can’t make this stuff up. On May 21, 2013 Obama appointed Bob Bauer to A FEC Presidential Commission on Election Administration.
LOOKING TO STEAL MORE VOTES IN THE FUTURE.
Commission to identify practical, real-world solutions to long voter lines, access to polls.
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Presidential Commission on Election Administration was officially launched today, following President Barack Obama ‘s State of the Union pledge to identify non-partisan ways to shorten lines at polling places, promote the efficient conduct of elections, and provide better access to the polls for all voters.
The 10-member Commission will submit a final report to the President within six months of its first public meeting, which is expected to be held in Washington in June. Headed by Co-Chairs Bob Bauer and Ben Ginsberg , the Commissioners are experts in election administration, policy and procedures, or leaders from customer service-oriented businesses and industry.
“The President’s expectation is clear,” said Co-Chair Bob Bauer , who served President Obama as White House counsel from December 2009 until 2011, and as General Counsel to the President’s re-election committee and to the Democratic National Committee. “The Commission is charged with developing recommendations based on the best information available for administrative practices that afford voters the opportunity to cast ballots without undue delay and improve their overall experience.”
The Commission was created by Executive Order 13644, Establishment of the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. Commissioners were appointed by the President.:
Robert F. Bauer , Co-Chair and Member – Partner, Perkins Coie LLP
Another Obama Executive order.
Levin said that Issa could have held hearings 6 months before the
elections, instead of sending a letter to the IRS regarding the targeting
of conservative groups.
Thanks for the info.
But this Guy just looks obviously like a good candidate for a connection to Louis Lerner....
I would bet Issa and committee know about him,...and Lerner could be the path to get to him...
Of course we will have some here say,....go after him right now.
I would say ....have some damn patience...build up some factual base.....before you go after the BIG DAWGS!!!!!
Thanks.
Issa IMO is obviously compromised—just check out his wikipedia profile for some rattling skeletons tumbling out of his closet.
Just the man that the Dems want in his position and one guy responsible for F&F going nowhere.
Good for Levin for calling him on it!
Another freeper posted a link here to Levin’s specific comments,
if you wish to listen.
I also agree with with your comments. Just look how Issa treated this
disgusting, arrogant IRS witch...with kid gloves. Issa and Camp are no friends
of conservatives.
bttt
How do we replace Issa? Through Boehner?
Yeah, I’d take it Boehner has to go first.
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