[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 66 (Monday, May 13, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE IRREGULARITIES

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have been following very closely reports 
on irregularities in the Internal Revenue Service's scrutiny of 
applications for nonprofit status. These allegations, of course, are 
very troubling, and I intend to take a close look at the inspector 
general's report when it is released.
  Concerns such as these are why we have inspectors general. They are 
tasked with finding and preventing waste, fraud, and abuse, identifying 
breaches of law and protocol, and promoting efficiency in government. 
Our inspectors general have an excellent record of responsibility, and 
specifically Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax 
Administration, has an exceptionally strong reputation as a watchdog at 
the IRS. Of course, watching the IRS is also watching the IRS for the 
American people. I am confident he is examining this issue and doing it 
very well, as he has done in the past. I look forward to his report.
  The alleged actions of IRS employees in the Cincinnati field office 
would be a terrible breach of the public's trust. Whether they are 
investigating conservative groups or liberal groups, they should not be 
involved. Targeting any group based on its political status is 
completely inappropriate. We need to get to the bottom of what 
happened, and the inspector general will get to the bottom of this. In 
the meantime no one should jump to conclusions, but we should all rest 
assured as soon as we have the inspector general's report the Senate 
will quickly take appropriate action.
  I have spoken today to the senior Senator from Montana, the chairman 
of the Finance Committee, Max Baucus, and he is looking into this 
matter in his role as chairman of the Finance Committee. If the 
inspector general's report indicates further investigation is needed, I 
have full confidence in the ability of Senator Baucus and the Finance 
Committee to get to the bottom of this matter and recommend appropriate 
action.

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