NH US Senator Jeanne Shaheen: on Both Sides of the IRS “Targeting Tea Party Groups”

New Hampshire US Senator Jeanne Shaheen on Feb 16th, 2012 (In a letter she signed and sent to the head of the IRS requesting they investigate 501(c)(4)’s in the run up to the 2012 elections)

“We write to inquire if the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is investigating or intends to investigate whether groups designated as “social welfare” organizations, and thus receiving tax or other advantages under section 501 (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 26 USC § 501 (c)(4), are improperly engaged in a substantial or even a predominant amount of campaign activity.”

“…The promotion of social welfare does not include direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for political office.”

See also here and here.

Last weekend (5-10-2013) we learned this…

Organizations were singled out (by the IRS during the 2012 election) because they included the words “tea party” or “patriot” in their applications for tax-exempt status, said Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt groups.

In some cases, groups were asked for their list of donors, which violates IRS policy in most cases, she said.

And what did New Hampshire US Senator Jeanne Shaheen have to say about that?

US Senator Jeanne Shaheen on Monday May 13th, 2013 (after the IRS targeting Scandal hits the press)

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen is calling for an investigation after the head of the Internal Revenue Service acknowledged it gave more scrutiny to conservative groups seeking tax exempt status.

…

On Monday, Senator Shaheen called the actions “completely unacceptable” and said an investigation must follow.

“I think Congress has an oversight responsibility to make sure that investigation gets done and to make sure if there are people responsible, that they are punished appropriately.”

So….Shaheen asks the IRS to “look at” non-profits in the run up to the election.  The IRS ‘Targets” groups in the run up to the 2012 election using the words “tea party” or “patriot” in their applications, and now that they have been caught…Senator Shaheen finds it “completely unacceptable?”

Well I think Senator Shaheen and I can agree on something here.  The “people responsible” should be “punished appropriately.”