Posted on 05/10/2013 8:05:33 AM PDT by mandaladon
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service is apologizing for inappropriately flagging conservative political groups for additional reviews during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status. Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS unit that oversees tax-exempt groups, said organizations that included the words "tea party" or "patriot" in their applications for tax-exempt status were singled out for additional reviews. Lerner said the practice, initiated by low-level workers in Cincinnati, was wrong and she apologized while speaking at a conference in Washington. Many conservative groups complained during the election that they were being harassed by the IRS. They said the agency asked them an inordinate number of questions to justify their tax-exempt status. Certain tax-exempt charitable groups can conduct political activities but it cannot be their primary activity.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
That's just silly... they can't be fired because then the IRS won't have the knowledge to not do it next time!
The Founding Fathers would have started shooting a LONG time ago.
What? The IRS attacked those opposed to their dictatorial policies and specifically targeted groups that are calling for a reduction in the IRS’ power! It is shocking I tell ya.
Luckily, we are trusting them to be the enforcers of Obamacare!
Just curious how this story broke. The IRS didn’t just up and decide to fess up. Did an undercover reporter break the scandal (yeah, I know jus kiddin)? Or is there a whistleblower (doubt that too..)?
So no one will be losing their cushy government union jobs, benefits, pension, etc..
Uncovered in response to lawyers’ request fighting audits.
So the lawyers were or are about to go public with this and the IRS is beating them to the podium with their little “not politically motivated low level workers in Cincinnati” story....oh ok that sounds about right
LOTS of complaints made their way up to Congress.
Apology goes nowhere to the ones that had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to fend off the attacks of the IRS. Not to speak of those that were destroyed by the audit. This is criminal and the IRS should be audited and employees should be hired by ability, not affirmative action.
Unbelievable.
Of course there will be no repercussions and this will be a blip on FOX, only.
More abuse of power from this administration!!
Are they ever going to have to answer for these flagrant violations of their oaths of office and the laws of this country?
EVER??
The IRS employees who did this deserve to be fired - but of course, federal employees can’t be fired for things like this. They may be “reassigned” but they won’t be fired.
The “apology” is a shot across the bow showing that they can do it, they can admit it, and nothing will be done about it. In other words they can continue doing it with impunity. This is in your face.
They are as sorry as Hillary Clinton is about Benghazi. :)
Apology not accepted. The political (socialist/fascist) goons involved must be prosecuted!!
That’s the only solution barring a miracle from God. It’s completely broken and the people in position to fix it won’t because they made it this way.
I agree.
Sorry they got caught.
Does Obama have an “Enemies of Obama” list and is he directing the IRS to harass them?
Low level workers? Who directed them to do this? I don’t believe they did this on their own. The whole chain of command should be subpoened by an independent counsel.
Why is this news?
This is how the game is played.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.