Posted on 05/13/2013 12:37:10 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
In the wake of an admission by an IRS official that conservative groups had been targeted for additional scrutiny, Rep. Michael Turner will introduce legislation Monday that would increase the penalty for singling out ideological organizations —including the possibility of jail time.
Turner, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said news about the IRS is an example of abuse of government power.
“Across the country, people are appalled to learn the IRS targeted people because of their political beliefs,” the Ohio Republican told POLITICO. “These are issues of basic rights of expression.”
He added, “This is an issue of whether or not authority has been abused in the government. They were doing this for all the wrong reasons.”
Turner’s bill would expressly prohibit an IRS employee from discriminating against a group or individual based on protected statuses. It also expressly states that political speech and expression are protected statuses and protect all political speech from being targeted by the IRS — not just that of conservative groups.
IRS employees are already prohibited from discriminating in the course of the work, but the highest level of punishment is termination. Under Turner’s law, the penalty would be increased to a fine up to $5,000, five years in prison or both.
The increased sanctions are in line with the current sanctions for an administration official who directs employees to do the same thing.
On Friday, an IRS official acknowledged that the agency flagged 75 conservative groups for extra review because their names included “tea party” or “patriot.”
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
...now that the horse has safely cleared the barn door.
If ever there was blatant proof for why the IRS must not be given access and power over your medical records and insurance history, THIS should be enough. But ya know, this country is in the shytter. The republicants passed the obanation health fascism so it will remain in place until the nation falls and the IRS will be given the green light to persecute. prosecute, and pummel anyone the democrips say they want punished.
Anything less than elimination of 16A is unacceptable.
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