As was to be expected, more details have come to the surface, about the IRS scandal in which Tea Party corporation groups were targeted for extra examination when applying for tax-exempt status. No Tea Party group had its application denied, though some may have been delayed. Today, acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller resigned today.
Among the additional details since the first outrage --
Mr. Miller was not overseeing the IRS when the improper examinations took place. He's only been in his position since November, when the then-IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman headed the agency. Mr. Shulman was the man in charge during the problems. Further, it's worth noting that Douglas Shulman was appointed to his position by the previous president, George W. Bush.
Again, to be clear, Steven Miller, who resigned was not involved in any way with the examinations. His issue is that when testifying before Congress, he gave some answers that tended to whitewash the problem, and lost credibility. His additional issue is that there had to be accountability, and when you're in charge, you're out of luck.
Additionally, in an investigation by Bloomberg News, they found that liberal groups with words like "Progress" in their names who applied for tax exempt status during the same period were given the same extra-detailed examination as went to the Tea Party corporation groups. And one of those liberal groups was denied its application.
None of this is to suggest that improprieties didn't occur. Even the IRS acknowledges that some were. Just that, as tends to be the case of the Initial Outrage always happens, there are other aspects to the story worth knowing about that add important perspective.
I just think it's always good to know as much about what you're talking about, especially when you're outraged, so that your outrage can be properly placed. But then, that's just me.
Among the additional details since the first outrage --
Mr. Miller was not overseeing the IRS when the improper examinations took place. He's only been in his position since November, when the then-IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman headed the agency. Mr. Shulman was the man in charge during the problems. Further, it's worth noting that Douglas Shulman was appointed to his position by the previous president, George W. Bush.
Again, to be clear, Steven Miller, who resigned was not involved in any way with the examinations. His issue is that when testifying before Congress, he gave some answers that tended to whitewash the problem, and lost credibility. His additional issue is that there had to be accountability, and when you're in charge, you're out of luck.
Additionally, in an investigation by Bloomberg News, they found that liberal groups with words like "Progress" in their names who applied for tax exempt status during the same period were given the same extra-detailed examination as went to the Tea Party corporation groups. And one of those liberal groups was denied its application.
None of this is to suggest that improprieties didn't occur. Even the IRS acknowledges that some were. Just that, as tends to be the case of the Initial Outrage always happens, there are other aspects to the story worth knowing about that add important perspective.
I just think it's always good to know as much about what you're talking about, especially when you're outraged, so that your outrage can be properly placed. But then, that's just me.
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