buzzz worthy. . .
An FBI led criminal investigation has been opened in an IRS scandal that has sparked bipartisan outrage. All of Washington is on edge, perhaps no one mores than President Obama.
Attorney General Eric Holder launched the investigation after several conservative organizations became the targets of an IRS probe. ( A Manassas Tea Party Group is among those targeted in the investigation.)
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has been working hard to ensure the public that his boss is not at fault and won't tolerate discrimination in the IRS . In a 5/15 press briefing Carney said
"He expects the Treasury Department and the IRS to take all the necessary actions to ensure that this kind of thing cannot happen again. And he insists that this happen because it is of the utmost importance, in the President’s mind, that the American people understand and believe that the IRS applies our tax laws in a neutral and fair way to everyone.
And he is -- feels very strongly about this, as I think you saw when he took a question about it and answered it in the hypothetical, if you will, if the reports on what had happened turned out to be true. And now that we know what the IG report has said, you saw what his views are about it in the statement he released."
Attorney General Eric Holdener ordered the IRS probe after the IRS admitted to extra scrutiny of tax records for some conservative groups.
If discrimination is found, Carney was not specific about what the ramifications may be.
" . . . the President believes that the conduct reported in the IG’s review is inappropriate, it is wrong, and there needs to be consequences for that conduct and there need to be steps taken to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
In a four-minute statement in the White House Press room on 5/15 President Obama was more pointed about what will happen to tax violators:
Accountability
First, we’re going to hold the responsible parties accountable. Yesterday, I directed Secretary Lew to follow up on the IG audit to see how this happened and who is responsible, and to make sure that we understand all the facts. Today, Secretary Lew took the first step by requesting and accepting the resignation of the acting commissioner of the IRS, because given the controversy surrounding this audit, it’s important to institute new leadership that can help restore confidence going forward.
Revised Rules
Second, we’re going to put in place new safeguards to make sure this kind of behavior cannot happen again. And I’ve directed Secretary Lew to ensure the IRS begins implementing the IG’s recommendations right away.
Partnering with Congress
Third, we will work with Congress as it performs its oversight role. And our administration has to make sure that we are working hand in hand with Congress to get this thing fixed. Congress, Democrats and Republicans, owe it to the American people to treat that authority with the responsibility it deserves and in a way that doesn’t smack of politics or partisan agendas. Because I think one thing that you’ve seen is, across the board, everybody believes what happened in -- as reported in the IG report is an outrage. The good news is it’s fixable, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to work together to fix it.
I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing like this happens again by holding the responsible parties accountable, by putting in place new checks and new safeguards, and going forward, by making sure that the law is applied as it should be -- in a fair and impartial way. And we’re going to have to make sure that the laws are clear so that we can have confidence that they are enforced in a fair and impartial way, and that there’s not too much ambiguity surrounding these laws.
In all of the four minutes President Obama spoke there
Michelle Balkman said th eWhire House shouuld not be allowed to investigate itself. Obaman said he toool action the momne the heard of the ma
Boehner's question is "Who's going to jail over this scandal?"
An FBI led criminal investigation has been opened in an IRS scandal that has sparked bipartisan outrage. All of Washington is on edge, perhaps no one mores than President Obama.
Attorney General Eric Holder launched the investigation after several conservative organizations became the targets of an IRS probe. ( A Manassas Tea Party Group is among those targeted in the investigation.)
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has been working hard to ensure the public that his boss is not at fault and won't tolerate discrimination in the IRS . In a 5/15 press briefing Carney said
"He expects the Treasury Department and the IRS to take all the necessary actions to ensure that this kind of thing cannot happen again. And he insists that this happen because it is of the utmost importance, in the President’s mind, that the American people understand and believe that the IRS applies our tax laws in a neutral and fair way to everyone.
And he is -- feels very strongly about this, as I think you saw when he took a question about it and answered it in the hypothetical, if you will, if the reports on what had happened turned out to be true. And now that we know what the IG report has said, you saw what his views are about it in the statement he released."
Attorney General Eric Holdener ordered the IRS probe after the IRS admitted to extra scrutiny of tax records for some conservative groups.
If discrimination is found, Carney was not specific about what the ramifications may be.
" . . . the President believes that the conduct reported in the IG’s review is inappropriate, it is wrong, and there needs to be consequences for that conduct and there need to be steps taken to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
In a four-minute statement in the White House Press room on 5/15 President Obama was more pointed about what will happen to tax violators:
Accountability
First, we’re going to hold the responsible parties accountable. Yesterday, I directed Secretary Lew to follow up on the IG audit to see how this happened and who is responsible, and to make sure that we understand all the facts. Today, Secretary Lew took the first step by requesting and accepting the resignation of the acting commissioner of the IRS, because given the controversy surrounding this audit, it’s important to institute new leadership that can help restore confidence going forward.
Revised Rules
Second, we’re going to put in place new safeguards to make sure this kind of behavior cannot happen again. And I’ve directed Secretary Lew to ensure the IRS begins implementing the IG’s recommendations right away.
Partnering with Congress
Third, we will work with Congress as it performs its oversight role. And our administration has to make sure that we are working hand in hand with Congress to get this thing fixed. Congress, Democrats and Republicans, owe it to the American people to treat that authority with the responsibility it deserves and in a way that doesn’t smack of politics or partisan agendas. Because I think one thing that you’ve seen is, across the board, everybody believes what happened in -- as reported in the IG report is an outrage. The good news is it’s fixable, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to work together to fix it.
I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing like this happens again by holding the responsible parties accountable, by putting in place new checks and new safeguards, and going forward, by making sure that the law is applied as it should be -- in a fair and impartial way. And we’re going to have to make sure that the laws are clear so that we can have confidence that they are enforced in a fair and impartial way, and that there’s not too much ambiguity surrounding these laws.
In all of the four minutes President Obama spoke there
Michelle Balkman said th eWhire House shouuld not be allowed to investigate itself. Obaman said he toool action the momne the heard of the ma
Boehner's question is "Who's going to jail over this scandal?"