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Do you recall the very public 2013 “IRS Scandal?” How about the more than a dozen Oversight Committee Hearings related to the alleged scandal? Did you ever get the impression the hearings became a mere political show sponsored by Darrell Issa (R) CA., in accordance with the promise of thousand of investigations once he took over as Oversight Committee Chair. Issa declared war on the Administration even before he assume the chair seat. The declaration should have set the stage for what was to come. And , yes Issa “Brought it” As some would say. He “brought it to the tune of close to $8 million dollars and has uncovered nothing ore than an agency doing its job. The Cincinnati office use every available indicator to investigate the tsunami of post Citizens United ruling of donation anonymity. As Issa’s ‘pit-bull’ nonsense continued an IRS Commissioner eventual found and reported progressive groups had also received deep scrutiny. Ultimately, as of late 2013, not one request had been denied
The Issa witch-hunt has accomplished nothing , beyond additional congressional waste of time and valuable federal capital.
Just after the 2010 elections that resulted in a tea party infestation the House of Representatives like a locust infestation, Issa spoke to Politico.
Issa told POLITICO in an interview that he wants each of his seven subcommittees to hold “one or two hearings each week.”
“I want seven hearings a week, times 40 weeks,” Issa said.
Issa’s comments, three days after the 2010 mid-terms, foretold how Issa would go about the business of oversight. When one goes Machiavellian to that extent, a reasonable person should have considered the prospect of digging where there is no gold. Sadly, serving as the GOP chief (golf) prospector probably led to examples of wishful fabrication. we have evidence Issa’ dogma involved underhanded or quasi-unethical acts outside the purvey of Isaa’s Minority Party Ranking Member, Elijah Cummings. The alleged IRS Scandal is a linchpin example of political party and movement that will stoop to any level to accomplish its mission and satisfy the whelms of its non-elected power-brokers.
A couple of days back, the New York Times published an OP-Ed from Thomas B. Esdall. Esdall effectively address the “IRS Scandal” while delineating exactly why the IRS should have been lauded for doing its job. Early communication about what appeared as a “tea party or 9/12” witch-hunt, subsequent information and data indicates the Cincinnati Office also properly investigate non-conservative organizations applications.
Before the NY Times link, take a look at a Center For Responsive Politics flowchart from the article.
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So you actually believe that all of those end-points and sub-fissures should the tax exempt. Moreover, how about the prospect that people who donate to theses organization have a disclosure requirement?
Why the I.R.S. Scandal Won’t Go Away
Two points in closing. Darell Issa’s “pit bull” antics should be curtailed. He is wasting significant amounts of our tax dollars on nothing more than a politically charged witch-hunt.
We can thank the SCOTUS for the hydrogen explosion-like proliferation of flow charts like the Koch chart posted above. There is no way those organizations are about tax exempt political education (alone).
Finally, the Cincinnati IRS Office did its job and we should hope that job performance continues. I am afraid the mission has been curtailed; that feeds the Kochs and their mega wealthy plutocratic cabal.
The Pardu's Scroll 