U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today reacted to the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) admission that it inappropriately targeted conservative political groups for additional screening and scrutiny:
“Chicago-style politics strikes again. The specific targeting of groups or organizations by a government agency due to the group’s political views or affiliations is deplorable and cannot be tolerated. The Obama IRS needs to answer for its harassment of conservative groups. These actions undermine the confidence the American people have in the IRS to objectively and transparently administer our nation’s tax laws. I urge the president to conduct a thorough review of the unacceptable practice of political discrimination at the IRS.”
Last year, Thune, along with several members of the Senate Finance Committee, which has oversight of the IRS, sent three letters to the IRS urging it not to play politics with the review and evaluation of any non-profit 501(c)(4) organizations. The letters questioned the practices used by the IRS for the approval and renewal of a tax-exempt designation under section 501(c)(4) and requested a review of its procedures.