Alison Lundergan Grimes only likes to speak up when it’s politically convenient for her, so it’s no wonder she hasn’t said a word about the ongoing IRS scandal. Contrast that with Sen. McConnell, who has been a leading voice in calling for answers and justice.
Why hasn’t Alison raised her concerns about the IRS’s targeting of conservative groups or the fact that important emails pertaining to the scandal are now allegedly “lost” (and have spawned a new investigation)?
Perhaps its because her campaign received donations from the National Treasury Employees Union, which covers IRS employees.
After lying about standing up for coal at her Harry Reid fundraiser, it’s already clear that Alison Lundergan Grimes will put those bankrolling her campaign ahead of Kentuckians, and voters can be sure that if she were elected to the Senate, she’d always let her donors speak for her.
BACKGROUND
Sen. McConnell Has Long Been A Leading Voice Against The IRS’ Targeting Of Conservatives
Sen. McConnell Voiced His Concern About The IRS’ Targeting Of Conservative Groups In March Of 2012, Before It Made National Headlines. “After complaints from conservative organizations, a dozen Republican senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., wrote to the IRS in March of 2012, expressing concern about the agency’s “excessive” oversight of conservative groups. (Jake Miller, “IRS official apologizes to tea party groups for “incorrect” scrutiny during 2012 election,” CBS, 5/10/13)
Background
The IRS “Singled Out” Conservative Groups For Audits. “Lax oversight at the Internal Revenue Service allowed for the singling out of some conservative groups, resulting in lengthy delays in the processing of their applications for federal tax-exempt status, according to a report by the agency’s inspector general released Tuesday.” (Dana Bash, Chelsea Carter, “Obama says some IRS employees ‘failed,’ orders accountability,” CNN, 5/15/13)
By 2011, The IRS Had Already Set Aside More Than 100 Applications From Groups That Used Specific Words In Their Name For Review; The Head Of The Specific Division At The IRS Also Was Aware Of The Targeting In 2011. “A forthcoming Treasury Department inspector general’s report finds that IRS staffers looked for applications for tax-exempt status from groups that used in their names words such as ‘Tea Party,’ ‘Patriots’ and ‘9/12,’ as well as ones that contained expressions of concern about government spending or criticism of how the country is run. One manager worried — with reason — that this targeting might result in ‘over-inclusion’ of applications that needed no such scrutiny. By 2011, IRS staff had set aside more than 100 applications for added review. It wasn’t just a couple of wayward staffers involved but rather a number of IRS agents and managers. The inspector general also reports that Lois Lerner, the head of the IRS’s tax-exempt organization office, knew about the targeting in 2011; she seemed to say Friday that she learned about it from news reports last year. That inconsistency raises suspicions about the agency’s statements that higher-ups didn’t know about the targeting and that there was no political motivation.” (Editorial, “The IRS’s Turn To Answer Questions,” The Washington Post, 5/13/13)
A Kentucky Group Was Among Those Conservative Groups Targeted By The IRS. “The Kentucky 9/12 Project is the only Kentucky group to acknowledge that they were targeted by the IRS in 2012 for their decision to register as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.” (Kenny Colston, “Mitch McConnell Campaign Focuses on IRS Scandal in New Web Ad,” WFPL, 5/29/13)
Now The IRS Claims They “Lost” Lois Lerner’s Emails
The IRS Says It Cannot Locate Many Of Lois Lerner’s Emails Related To The IRS Scandal. “The Internal Revenue Service says it has lost a trove of emails to and from a central figure in the agency’s tea party controversy. The IRS told congressional investigators Friday it cannot locate many of Lois Lerner’s emails prior to 2011 because her computer crashed that year. Lerner headed the IRS division that processed applications for tax-exempt status. (“IRS lost Lois Lerner’s emails in tea party probe,” CBS, 6/13/14)
Many Of Lerner’s Missing Emails Were To Officials At The White House. “But an untold number are gone. Camp’s office said the missing emails are mainly ones to and from people outside the IRS, “such as the White House, Treasury, Department of Justice, FEC, or Democrat offices.” (“IRS lost Lois Lerner’s emails in tea party probe,”CBS, 6/13/14)
