Acting IRS Commissioner Steven T. Miller is unlikely to ever be confirmed for the job, the result of a broadening political scandal decried by Democrats and Republicans, according to several Senate sources.
“Confirmation of any nominee will be premature until there is a complete investigation of the administration’s targeting of American citizens due to their political beliefs,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told Secrets. “Congress must hold hearings, and the administration must answer to the American people who they targeted using these dirty, Chicago-style tactics.”
Cornyn is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the Internal Revenue Service. The chairman of that panel, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont, said, “These actions by the IRS are an outrageous abuse of power and a breach of the public’s trust. Targeting groups based on their political views is not only inappropriate but it is intolerable.”
While Miller has been in his post for just a few months, he was and remains the head of the Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division that oversees the unit involved in the IRS targeting of Tea Party critics of President Obama. He has also been linked to the tax agency’s effort to target conservative groups during the Clinton administration.
Some expected Obama to nominate Miller to head the agency, but that appears to be on hold now. Other Senate sources said that there would be a hold placed on his nomination if he were to get the promotion.
“My boss has indicated that, at a minimum, everyone deemed to be involved in both the targeting and the failed oversight should be fired,” said a key GOP aide.
The Senate Finance Committee is planning to conduct an investigation into the scandal. Several other panels are also planning hearings, including the House Ways and Means Committee.
The toxic situation for Miller and IRS is expected to get worse this week as some members, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., prepare to introduce resolutions condemning the IRS for its witch hunt. “The IRS has been using taxing power as a political tool to bully these conservative groups and this type of intimidation is a major violation of our U.S. Constitution,” said Paul. “This act of discrimination should not be tolerated and I demand a formal investigation seeking criminal charges against any individuals who authorized or were involved in targeting people of the United States based on their political views.”
