Posted on 05/17/2013 6:02:03 AM PDT by 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.
What do you call 25,000 IRS agents sinking to the bottom of the Ocean?
A good start...
Miller isn’t the target. He is a means to an end.
If I’m not mistaken, Miller just said this hearing (”these discussions”) are demoralizing to the incredibly honest people who work at IRS, and are also damaging to the “voluntary” system of tax collection.
But I just tuned in and my ears have not adjusted to the bs levels yet.
Exactly. The last R who spoke was a joke. Worried about PR.
He wasted all his time asking about the the reporting structure of the IRS - with no purpose. Horrible!
Supplied to them by Media Matters and other media groups....
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Agree..and he is making it easy. He has already been caught in lies. He is not coming off as credible or ethical.
Add there was no political/partisan motive per the IG report, the Citizens United decision overwhelmed the unit, and that Congress needs to better define the definition of non-profits so it doesn’t happen again.
Did Schwartz actually “ask” a question? Or was that just a large rambling suck-up job?
If I were at the witness table with this Dem from PA going on and on, I’d honestly have to say, “I’m sorry, I drifted off like three times when you were talking. What is your question?”
Thanks Bean...will look at later...just “briefed” it ;)
Miller will sit very well on retirement.
Pennsylvanian (D) speaks of “moving this process forward” and a minute later, “going forward.” Why do so many people speak in chunks?
Lawd only knows. blah blah blah blah
That pretty much describes ALL of the Rat committee members.
This IRS scandal (I think penelopesire [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3020608/posts?page=15#15] is right, we really should be calling this a gross abuse of power) broke last Friday – a week ago. And note – ON A FRIDAY! This is only day 8.
So far we have had the pResident go on national TV to announce the symbolic (really phony) firing of the acting head of the IRS. Already we have the House Ways and Means committee placing UNDER OATH the fired acting head and the IG inspector who wrote the whitewash report.
A quick look at links for day 8 of the IRS abuse of power revelation is rather long:
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/irs-sc.html
We also have a rather quick Gallup poll result that shows that 74% of Americans think IRS “scandal” deserves more investigation. Yes, Gallup is also showing that 54% are paying “somewhat or very close” attention, which they spin as “well below the average” (of 60%) attention of other such news in recent decades. Actually that is not bad after just one week.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/162584/americans-attention-irs-benghazi-stories-below-average.aspx
Further, you have even Massachusetts dems taking a hard line on the “ongoing IRS scandal.”
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2013/05/democrats_take_a_hard_line
Sure, that is not genuine, but that is just one more indicator that this is toxic to dems in the extreme.
When you have all of this happening in JUST THE FIRST WEEK you have a “scandal” going at warp speed.
FReepers! Don’t jump into pits of despair.
Hang on! Enjoy the ride!
I am suspicious about that IG report. It seems too vague and unquestioning of the information given by IRS employees. Jack Lew is a stooge not to be trusted.
The moving forward..game..is fully coming from the top...move it along and make it seem as though something that needs fixing...and not criminal.
Miller looks like Elliot Gould. Ingram looks like Dana Carvey’s Church Lady.
That said, this is chilling. Not only what the IRS has done, but the sunlight of gavel to gavel coverage of the abject idiots many Congressional Districts have elected.
The woman from CA—we NEED MORE IRS—was shameful in her duplicity of more IRS more IRS more....
Yes...”....the buck stops here...”.
While i agree with you do you think he’s wrong? They can do whatever they want to whomever they want? Same as every other government agency?
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