I hope you are as outraged as I am over the IRS “loss” of e-mails in the Lois Lerner scandal over the targeting of conservative organizations. Keep in mind that this is the result of big government’s culture of corruption conceived by bureaucrats who think we taxpayers aren’t paying attention.
I’m sorry to say many are not, or don’t see how it affects them. I would wager that many didn’t take the time to watch the House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on the IRS scandal held during prime time Monday night, let alone have awareness that it was being broadcast.
IRS Director John Koskinen displayed an arrogance I haven’t seen by someone who should have been contrite, except perhaps Attorney General Eric Holder. A number of Republicans, however, stood firm. Representatives Trey Gowdy (R-SC), Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Michael Turner (R-OH) were particularly firm.
On the Democrat side, no member could top Rep. Gerry Connolly‘s (D-VA) embarrassing example of carrying his party’s water for the IRS and the administration. Surely the director knew Connolly’s questions in advance.
If you were otherwise occupied Monday evening, please take the time to click on the highlights above to hear their questioning.
If this IRS scandal isn’t enough to make you sit and up and take notice, remember that just two months ago, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that some 2,800 of disciplined employees of the IRS received $2.8 million in monetary awards. Violations included late payment or nonpayment of federal taxes (yes, you read that correctly), government travel card misuse, misconduct and fraud.
Then there was the report last October that some 700 IRS contract workers owe $5.4 million in back taxes. In its annual reports, the IRS has revealed that federal employees across the board owe some $4 billion in unpaid taxes. Unbelievably, “The IRS takes tax compliance for taxpayers and those who work for the IRS very seriously,” wrote J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
Wait until the horror stories of IRS enforcement of ObamaCare regulations hit main street. Stay informed.
