Cincinnati Dems v. Washington Dems

Top Cincinnati Democrats Are ‘Fed Up’ With Their Federal Counterparts Over IRS Scandal, Argue ‘The Problem Originated In Washington’

‘Attempting To Dismiss It As Random Acts Of Low-Level Employees Here Is Offensive’

Cincinnati Democrats: ‘We are fed up’ “The Cincinnati area is being portrayed as a hotbed of rogue, corrupt IRS employees. We are fed up with this constant refrain, which has been picked up by the media blaming the scandal on local IRS workers. We believe the problem originated in Washington.” (Tom Luken & Dusty Rhoades, “Clear City's Name In IRS Scandal,” Cincinnati Enquirer, 6/11/13)

• “This is an outright assault on our free speech and religious freedoms, perhaps the most egregious ever. Attempting to dismiss it as random acts of low-level employees here is offensive and beyond reason.” Ibid
• “This is not a partisan issue. We encourage Congress to press on with a full and complete investigation of the IRS. We expect the result put the blame squarely where it belongs, and in so doing clear Cincinnati’s good name and reputation.” Ibid
• “When specific groups are targeted by a powerful government agency, it is more than just a ‘controversy.’ When the former IRS head visits the White House 167 times and fails to explain why, it is more than just a ‘controversy.’ When the IRS tax-exempt section director testifies before a congressional committee that she did nothing wrong but then takes the Fifth Amendment, it is more than just a ‘controversy.’” Ibid

Cincinnati IRS Worker: ‘Everything Comes From The Top’

“The claim that the ongoing IRS scandal is limited to low level employees is falling apart.” (“Reality Check Exclusive: Cincinnati Agent Giving Orders In IRS Scandal?” Fox19 [OH], 5/21/13)

• “The Internal Revenue Service has told House GOP investigators they have identified 88 IRS employees who may have documents relevant to the congressional investigation into targeting of conservative groups, according to a congressional source familiar with the investigation.” (“IRS Collects Docs From 88 Employees In Investigation,” CNN, 5/31/13)

Cincinnati IRS Worker: ‘Everything comes from the top. We don’t have any authority to make those decisions...’ “‘We’re not political,’ said one determinations staffer in khakis as he left work late Tuesday afternoon. ‘We people on the local level are doing what we are supposed to do. . . . That’s why there are so many people here who are flustered. Everything comes from the top. We don’t have any authority to make those decisions without someone signing off on them. There has to be a directive.’” (“At Cincinnati IRS Office, Surprise Over Claims Of Partisan Villainy,” The Washington Post, 5/17/13)

“Two Internal Revenue Service employees in the agency's Cincinnati office told congressional investigators that IRS officials in Washington helped direct the probe of tea-party groups that began in 2010. Transcripts of the interviews, viewed Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal, appear to contradict earlier statements by top IRS officials…” (“IRS Staff Cite Washington Link,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/5/13)

• IRS Worker Gary Muthert:
  Local Manager told him ‘Washington, D.C., wanted some cases’ “The Cincinnati employee who conducted the search, Gary Muthert, said he started gathering applications in March 2010, at the request of an unidentified local manager, who allegedly told him that ‘Washington, D.C., wanted some cases,’ according to the transcripts.” Ibid
• IRS Worker Elizabeth Hofacre: ‘I had no autonomy or no authority to act on [applications] without Carter Hull's influence or input… Carter Hull, an IRS lawyer in Washington’ “Elizabeth Hofacre said her office in Cincinnati sought help from IRS officials in the Washington unit that oversees tax-exempt organizations after she started getting the tea-party cases in April 2010. Ms. Hofacre said Carter Hull, an IRS lawyer in Washington, closely oversaw her work and suggested some of the questions asked applicants. ‘I was essentially a front person, because I had no autonomy or no authority to act on [applications] without Carter Hull's influence or input,’ she said, according to the transcripts. ” Ibid

Colleen Kelley, NTEU President: “[E]verything about the working life of a federal employee is decided by someone who is elected.” (“Federal Workers’ Defense,” The Hill, 5/15/12)

---

Tags: IRS, Scandal, Cincinnati Democrats, Washington,  DC Democrats To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!