Ander Crenshaw Holds Hearing on IRS

From his perch as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw has some control of how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) manages its funds -- and, on Monday, he called some of that organizations managers before his committee.

Acting IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George faced Crenshaw on Monday and the Florida Republican quickly brought up the recent revelations that the IRS had targeted conservative and tea party groups.

The facts and circumstances that bring us here are enough to shake anyone's faith and trust in government," Crenshaw said. Targeting groups based on their
names and political beliefs is both chilling and outrageous. A voluntary tax system depends on a fair and impartial collection process because, as Chief Justice Marshall said, the power to tax is the power to destroy.

Calling the IRS targeting of conservative groups, an arrogant and absolute abuse of power, Crenshaw ripped IRS management for ignoring it. No one spoke up," Crenshaw said. But, theres a lot we dont know. And its time for the IRS to come clean." Crenshaw also tore into the IRS for wasting funds. Now, we learn of the flagrant waste of taxpayer dollars on conferences and videos, he said. And, what is most disheartening, the money came in part from unused funds from the IRS enforcement budget -- at a time when they were asking for even more funding.

We cannot in good conscience provide taxpayer dollars that are used to abuse the rights of American citizens, nor can we provide dollars that are wasted in such a flagrant manner as we have just discovered, Crenshaw added.

Keep an eye on Sunshine State News for more on Crenshaws hearing on the IRS -- and how his tone differs from some Florida Republicans.