Talk:IRS targeting controversy

Rewrite based on hearing testimony

Based on the hearing ranscript this article needs to be completely rewritten. Hearing on Internal Revenue Service Targeting Conservative Groups Phmoreno (talk) 00:24, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

Opening testimony from the cited transcript:

Chairman Camp. The Committee on Ways and Means will come to order.

On May 10th, Lois Lerner, Director of Exempt Organizations for the Internal Revenue Service division that oversees tax exempt groups, finally acknowledged that the agency had been targeting conservative‑leaning political organizations. Four days later the Treasury Inspector General for Taxpayer Administration confirmed that “The IRS used inappropriate criteria to identify organizations applying for tax exempt status.” The report also confirmed that this abuse of power began as far back as 2010.

This revelation goes against the very principles of free speech and liberty upon which this country was founded. The blatant disregard with which the agency has treated Congress and the American taxpayer raises serious concerns about leadership at the IRS.

Let’s establish the facts that we do know. Based on the TIGTA report we know that for an 18‑month period beginning in spring 2010 IRS employees in the agency’s Determinations Unit employed key words such as “tea party,” “Patriot” and “9/12” to target applications for tax exempt status. These groups were then subjected to further IRS investigation and document requests. IRS employees later expanded their search to include groups concerned about government spending, debt, taxes, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, or trying to “make America a better place to live.” Let me repeat that. People were targeted for trying to make America a better place to live.

These Americans had their applications delayed for nearly 3 years and at least 98 applicants were asked for improper and inappropriate information such as donor lists and whether family members planned to run for political office. During that delay and while applications of conservative groups sat untouched for more than a year, other applications with names like “progress” and “progressive” were approved in just a matter of months. The headline in USA Today from earlier this week really says it all. “IRS gave liberals a pass; Tea Party groups put on hold.”

See transcript for details.Phmoreno (talk) 00:37, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

Republican talking points from four years ago? This is a primary source.VictoriaGrayson^Talk 01:03, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

WP:PRIMARY is allowed, but WP:UNDUE is not—discuss. El_C 01:37, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

I don't think we even have to get to WP:UNDUE. There is no way a partisan opening statement from a Congressional hearing—whether from a Republican or a Democrat—is a reliable source for a claim of fact, beyond that the speaker made the claim. Likewise, there's no justification from using an almost four-year-old statement with views already reflected in the article as a basis to rewrite the entire thing (or even part of it). What, is the theory that no one—not us, not secondary sources—was aware that hearings were conducted on this topic? Dyrnych (talk) 02:24, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

Yeah, I've not looked at this closely, but it does sound according to what both of you are saying, that the issue is lack of a WP:RS first and foremost. El_C 04:35, 30 March 2017 (UTC)

IRS admitted targeting in court, Lois Lerner blamed Wed., OCt 25, 2017

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/oct/25/trump-apologizes-irs-tea-party-targeting-faults-lo/

OK, it's time to finally have the truth told in this article.Phmoreno (talk) 04:12, 28 October 2017 (UTC)

Much of this is old news, at least as stated in the Consent Order issued by the Court this week in the Linchpin case. Most of the admissions listed in the Consent Order are admissions of what was found in the investigations by the Treasury Inspector General and the Senate Finance Committee. Maybe more will come out in the NorCal Tea Party case.

So far, the only source I have found mentioning the $3.5 million settlement is The Washington Times. The actual court documents and the Justice Department release quoting Jeff Sessions don't seem to mention that dollar figure (unless I missed it). Famspear (talk) 17:34, 28 October 2017 (UTC)

Title should change to IRS Targeting scandal

Based on the fact that the IRS admitted to targeting and paid a settlement to Tea Party groups it is time to give this article a more appropriate title.Phmoreno (talk) 12:59, 28 October 2017 (UTC)

Trumped up

With the deep state running all investigations it seems illogical that the first honest President would follow up on any of this until he has cleaned out the swamp. Hopefully Wikipedia too, will be taken over by honest people the President appoints.