State Congressman Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) has issued a statement on the controversy surrounding the IRS’ reported targeting of conservative groups.
The government agency is accused of “using inappropriate criteria that identified for review Tea Party and other organizations applying for tax-exempt status based upon their names or policy positions instead of indications of potential political campaign,” according to a report by the Treasury Inspector General.
According to the report the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division, “used inappropriate criteria that identified for review Tea Party and other organizations applying for tax-exempt status based upon their names or policy positions instead of indications of potential political campaign intervention. Ineffective management:
- Allowed inappropriate criteria to be developed and stay in place for more than 18 months
- Resulted in substantial delays in processing certain applications, and
- Allowed unnecessary information requests to be issued.
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“On Friday, the IRS admitted to targeting conservative groups in their reviews of applications for tax-exempt status. Four days later we’re now learning that they might have targeted pro-Israel groups as well. We also know that IRS officials in Washington and multiple other offices were involved, so this problem wasn’t an issue unique to their Cincinnati office.
"The actions of the IRS are frightening, because there are few things more daunting than a tax audit. The IRS, like any government agency, should investigate based on evidence and facts and not engage in political targeting. Targeting groups for their ideological and religious views contradicts our American ideals and, if it continues, will destroy the trust between the people and their government.
“We need to hold the agency accountable and conduct a full examination into how this abuse of power took place. My colleagues in the House have already started what I believe will be a thorough investigation of this politically-motivated injustice. We need to get to the bottom of this and make sure it never happens again.”
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