Ralph E WallSrAdmin started the discussion "LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN GRIFFITH" in the group Commonwealth of Virginia on Tea Party Command Center
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New facts and information are emerging daily regarding the IRS's targeting of conservative leaning organizations applying for tax-exempt status. This is currently the subject of an investigation by the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
On May 17, ousted Acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller testified before the House Ways and Means Committee. Mr. Miller stated "I don't think targeting is wrong." Furthermore, the publication Politico reported that Mr. Miller "spent most of the hearing saying he didn't remember things – like the details of how he first learned of the targeting – and insisting he didn't mislead Congress by not telling lawmakers" when asked at a hearing in July 2012 if Tea Party and other conservative groups were being targeted by the IRS. Mr. Miller seemed to believe that asking the conservative groups questions not asked of other ideological groups did not qualify as harassment. Mr. Miller admitted that the IRS targeted groups with names, such as "tea party" and "patriot," more associated with conservative causes and that they did not target groups with names, such as "progress" and "organizing," more associated with liberal causes.
On May 22, Lois Lerner, the IRS Director of Exempt Organizations division, testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. After giving an opening statement where she laid out her version of events, she refused to answer any of the committee's questions by invoking her 5th Amendment protection against self-incrimination. Ms. Lerner has since been placed on administrative leave from the IRS.
I will monitor the situation closely as it continues to unfold, and work to ensure that the IRS is held accountable for this shocking violation of the trust of the American people. You may be interested to know that I am a cosponsor the Prevent IRS Overreach Act of 2013 (H.R. 1993). Introduced by Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA), H.R. 1993 would prohibit the IRS from hiring or transferring any personnel in order to implement ObamaCare. H.R. 1993 has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee where it is currently under review.
I am also a cosponsor of the Taxpayer Nondiscrimination and Protection Act of 2013 (H.R. 1950), introduced by Representative Michael Turner (R-OH). This bill would make it a federal crime for an IRS employee to discriminate against an individual or group on the basis of their constitutionally-protected rights of political speech and political expression. This bill is currently under review by both the House Judiciary and House Ways and Means Committees.
You may also be interested to know that I support abolishing the current tax code in favor of a system that is simpler, fairer, and has lower tax rates, which is why I am a cosponsor of the Tax Code Termination Act (H.R. 352). H.R. 352 would abolish the IRS Code by December 31, 2017, and call on Congress to approve a new federal tax system by July of that same year. Setting a deadline will force Congress to create a simplified tax system that benefits American taxpayers and strengthens our economy.
For more information on what is happening in Congress, please visit my website atwww.morgangriffith.house.gov (http://www.morgangriffith.house.gov/). If I may be of further assistance to you on this, or any other issue, please feel free to contact me in my Washington, DC office at (202) 225-3861. I remain
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