*See Lawrence for explanation of IRS 'scandal.'

[elleng]

[Cha]

1. K&R.. saw this on DU, elleng

"On Sunday, a government official said the report will note that IRS officials told investigators that no one outside the IRS was involved in developing the criteria the agency now acknowledges were flawed," the WSJ reported. The report bolsters what Lois Lerner, the IRS director of exempt organizations, said Friday -- that the practice was "absolutely not" influenced by the administration.

The Associated Press reported on Saturday that based on a draft of the IG report, knowledge of the practice seemed not to be confined just to low-level employees, as initially claimed. Lerner was informed of the targeting practice on June 29, 2011, the IG report says, according to the AP. The IG report notes that Lerner wanted the criteria immediately changed. The AP also reported that according to the portion of the IG investigation released to the news outlet, it is unclear whether IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman or anyone outside the IRS knew about the changes.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2839543

[elleng]

7. Thanks, Cha.

Been SAYING for DAYS they were doing their job!!!

[deminks]

2. At last, an intelligent discussion with Lawrence and Ezra Klein.

Very well done. The IRS is supposed to be looking at these groups and their applications. That is essential to democracy.

[ProSense]

8. Yup, think about Levin's statement:

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) Pledges Investigation Into IRS

Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), chair of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, is pledging to dig into IRS practices after the agency revealed that employeers in a Cincinatti, Ohio office had inappropriately targeted conservative non-profits for additional review.

“My subcommittee has been investigating the IRS’s failure to enforce the law requiring that tax-exempt 501(c)4s be engaged exclusively in social welfare activities, not partisan politics," Levin said in a statement on Friday. "Today’s announcement by the IRS raises a second issue: whether the IRS, to the extent it has enforced its rules, has been impartial in doing so. Both issues require investigation.”

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/sen-carl-levin-d-mi-pledges-investigation-into

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022836081

[bhikkhu]

12. Hmm...whether the IRS has been impartial -

like the police are impartial when they stop people?

It seems like targeting a group that advocates tax evasion might be a good idea. But those PC right-wingers will always find some way to make law enforcement more complicated...

[liberal from boston]

11. IRS

Exactly demlinks!!!

[ProSense]

3. Frankly,

it's amazing that some people seem to have a sad that most of today's news is GOP-driven bullshit distractions.

IRS v. Tea Party & DOJ v. AP are BOTH GOP-Fabricated Non-Scandals
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022839564

[Cha]

10. small tiny minds.. if they don't get to blame

the President then everything is "Propaganda".

[cilla4progress]

4. 'zactly

The Prof is in!

[spanone]

5. k&r...

[moondust]

6. That was excellent.

[JaneyVee]

9. I'd be outraged if the IRS didn't investigate anti-tax groups with political ties

masquerading as nonprofit organizations.