IRS TARGETS CONSERVATIVES. I had a special post on Saturday compiling a number of stories related to Friday’s startling revelation that the IRS targeted conservative groups. With an IG report apparently coming shortly and congressional hearings assured, we’ll be hearing a lot more about this story. And to think it was just last Thursday that three members of the Federal Election Commission warned of the dangers of “partisan or ideological witch hunts” in the administration of campaign finance law… I wouldn’t be surprised if some groups sought the same reporting exemption granted to the Socialist Workers Party a few weeks ago.
IG REPORT WILL INTENSIFY CRITICISM. The Post. “At various points over the past two years, Internal Revenue Service officials targeted nonprofit groups that criticized the government and sought to educate Americans about the U.S. Constitution, according to documents in an audit conducted by the agency’s inspector general.”
TARGETING AND SIN. The Post. “The targeting of political organizations by the Internal Revenue Service is not only ‘absolutely inappropriate,’ as the agency acknowledged Friday, but it also might be a ‘deadly sin,’ according to an IRS reform law from 1998.”
IRS DRIP. The Times. “The head of the division on tax-exempt organizations, Lois Lerner, was briefed on the effort in June 2011, seemingly contradicting her assertion on Friday that she learned of the effort from news reports.”
COLLINS SLAMS. Here. “Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Sunday called the Internal Revenue Service’s singling out of conservative groups for extra scrutiny ‘absolutely chilling’ and called on President Obama to condemn the effort.”
POINT OF ORDER ON RENZI TRIAL. Here. “A number of Speech or Debate issues can be expected to arise during the trial.”
AL: AGENDA FOR FINAL DAY. Story here. “SB445 by Sen. Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville, would make changes to the state’s Fair Campaign Practices Act that Taylor said would make the law simpler, clearer and more enforceable. A substitute version passed by the House would repeal the $500 cap on corporate contributions to candidates, which some say is a “pretend” cap because corporations can legally skirt the law by giving to multiple political action committees.”
AZ: OFFICIAL LEAVING. Story here. “The top staff official of Arizona’s campaign finance agency is leaving to be a lawyer for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Arizona.”
CA: COMMENTS SOUGHT ON DRAFT MANUALS. FPPC (PDF).
VA: MORE TIES. Story here. “As the FBI and the Virginia State Police try to determine whether the Republican governor improperly helped Star or its chief executive, Jonnie R. Williams Sr., in exchange for the catering or other gifts, details of the first family’s relationship with the company continue to emerge.”
HAVE A GREAT DAY.