The IRS Is Defying An Obama Administration Order To Give Employees $70 Million In Bonuses

Business Insider - AP ^ | 6-20-2013 | ;Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press

[blam]

The IRS Is Defying An Obama Administration Order To Give Employees $70 Million In Bonuses

Stephen Ohlemacher, Associated Press
June 20, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) — Already reeling from a pair of scandals, the Internal Revenue Service is drawing new criticism over plans to hand out millions of dollars in employee bonuses.

The Obama administration has ordered agencies to cancel discretionary bonuses because of automatic spending cuts, but the IRS says it's merely following legal obligations under a union contract.

The agency is about to pay $70 million in employee bonuses, said Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, a senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the IRS.

Grassley says his office has learned that the IRS was to execute an agreement with the employees' union Wednesday to pay the bonuses. Grassley says the bonuses should be canceled under an April directive from the White House budget office.

The directive was written by Danny Werfel, a former budget official who has since been appointed acting IRS commissioner.

"The IRS always claims to be short on resources," Grassley said. "But it appears to have $70 million for union bonuses. And it appears to be making an extra effort to give the bonuses despite opportunities to renegotiate with the union and federal instruction to cease discretionary bonuses during sequestration."

On Wednesday, the IRS said it was still negotiating with the union over the matter. Under the union contract, employees can get individual performance bonuses of up to $3,500 a year.

"Because bargaining has not been completed, there has been no final determination made on the payment of performance awards for the bargaining unit employee population," IRS spokeswoman Michelle Eldridge said in a statement.

"IRS is under a legal obligation to comply with its collective bargaining agreement, which specifies

(snip)

[blam]

Obama's rewards for a successful campaign against Conservatives.

[knarf]

" .. the IRS says it's merely following legal obligations under a union contract."

Oh .. OK ... carry on.

[Crucial]

There should be no federal government unions. There shouldn't be that roadblock between the people and their government and the People's choices for representatives and the bureaucracy.

[bigbob]

Do it. Dig that hole deeper.

[Whenifhow]

Advocate For Stricter Voter Laws Now Claiming Unfair IRS Targeting - Wake Up America!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXOpOz5ptms

[IamConservative]

It’s so absurd to even think about, but what exactly would IRS agents get bonuses for? How many citizens they hassle? How many fines they inflict?

[dennisw]

Gonna give you all a clue. The IRS is chock full of affirmative action hires and this was confirmed by their stupid line dancing videos that got leaked. These affirmative action hires tilt left and are female/gay/LGBT/black/Hispanic etc etc

As such Obama is their god and they will do what he likes and what his stooges order to be done such as denying Tea Party applications for tax exempt status

[Retired Chemist]

Topic title left me wondering.

[MrB]

White Christian hating racist bigots, you mean?

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Anarchy Rules!!!!

[bravo whiskey]

another poorly written headline by “elite journalism school graduates.” first time i read it i inferred the order was from obama to give the bonuses and the irs wad defying that, not the other way around. this is how low information voters are indoctrinated.

[Rusty0604]

If it’s union, probably just for showing up at work.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

This headline is VERY badly worded. Which is is: has the Obama administration ordered the bonuses be paid and the IRS is refusing to do it, or is the IRS paying the bonuses in spite of an order from the administration not to?

I know the answer already, but clearly one does not need a firm command of English to become a journalist in this country.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Which is *it*.... I guess I’d better make sure my stuff is correct before I correct someone else’s grammar. :)

[dennisw]

yep>>> non-homo white guy has zero chance of getting hired by the IRS except maybe if he is a computer jockey

[Toespi]

For a job well done and continued success.

[MrB]

You can only get hired, if you’re a white Christian heterosexual,

if you actually have a useful skill?

[Trailerpark Badass]

but the IRS says it's merely following legal obligations under a union contract.

Well, contracts formed under collusion would seem to be invalid.

But thanks, Obama, for that strongly-worded "order."

[TArcher]

>>These affirmative action hires tilt left
>>and are female/gay/LGBT/black/Hispanic etc etc

Yep, Lot’s of that goin’ on.

{ Hi Peanuts! }

[TArcher]

BOHICA!