There are now at least four examples of the IRS asking very pointed questions to groups that are opposed to Obama’s political agenda, and all of them just happen to be in “Swing States.”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/is-obama-using-the-irs-to-silence-opposition-voices/
First up, the Ohio Liberty Council. The Ohio Liberty Council has decided that they will refuse to answer the IRS requests for additional information. In a press release, Ohio Liberty Council President, Tom Zawistowski, said:
“We find that your requests are unreasonable, overly burdensome, intrusive and possibly politically motivated and that they have little to do with determining our organization’s qualifications for non-profit status. Instead we believe that your requests force our organization to either forfeit our First Amendment Rights to Free Political Speech and Freedom of Assembly or deny us the non-profit status we are entitled to under IRS regulations. Neither of which is acceptable.”
The IRS Cover Letter to the group and the list of additional questions can be seen here and here.
Next up is the Richmond Tea Party in an incident covered by the Weekly Standard. You can see the list of questions by the IRS here.
The Richmond Tea Party put out a press release on the issue just a few days ago.
The Shenandoah Tea Party (also in Virginia) has been hit with a similar request.
If this is a push by the Obama administration to wield the IRS as a political club, it certainly gives credibility to those calling for an overhaul of the entire tax code. It certainly seems likely that news will surface of additional similar requests. It remains to be seen if those requests are also in “swing states.” If you have any news of additional such requests for Liberty groups filing for 501 C status, please email us here.
