Tea Party groups have been targeted for years by the Internal Revenue Service, and Republican members of Congress are calling for it to stop — and for a possible independent investigation into the agency’s abuse.
“I think the American people have every right to expect better,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said during a press conference on Thursday.
Cruz was joined by other Tea Party leaders, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas). Leaders of Tea Party groups from across the country also participated, sharing stories of how their organizations were given the run-around by the IRS.
Cruz also called for a look into the Obama administration’s knowledge of the IRS situation, including who knew about the abuse of power and didn’t act to stop it. Echoing Cruz’s remarks, Bachmann stressed that the American people have not been receiving the truth since Obama has been having “a no good, very bad week.” While the investigation starts with Congress and its committees, she did not rule out the possibility of a special prosecutor.
“We don’t know how far this abuse of power will take us,” she said, stressing the step-by-step process necessary in the ongoing investigation. “But we don’t want to go in advance of the facts. We need to follow the facts and take them where they lead.”
Ever fiery and outspoken, Gohmert called the government “tyrannical” and pointedly asked if the resignation of Acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller — who just took over that role in November — would actually fix the problem.
“My colleague, Representative Louie Gohmert, has just joined your ranks now,” Bachmann joked with the press. “He’s a part of the media. He’s asking all the questions.”
The Minnesota Congresswoman also condemned the false information spread about the Tea Party, including comments made by former NAACP President Julian Bond, who recently called the movement the “Taliban wing of American politics.”
“I was shocked [by Bond’s remark], because again, this is a part of the false narrative that was attempted to be spread by all of the people on the Left who so fear this spontaneous rise of the American people against big government,” Bachmann said, before adding, “It’s reprehensible, the comments that were made. They are obviously patently false on their face and I call on those to stop spreading lies about this wonderful Tea Party movement.”
The conservative members of Congress also noted that the IRS abuse of power could extend into other areas of government, such as the implementation of Obamacare — a law that will once again come before another House vote this week. Bachmann worried that access to health care could be based on one’s political or religious beliefs. Paul also expressed his concern about the situation.
“I’m quite worried that your medical records now will be evaluated by the IRS that seems to have the ability and seems to have the penchant to use political persuasion and political oppo to search out political opponents,” he said.
