Washington, DC – Today, Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Charles Boustany Jr., MD (R-LA) sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding the IRS admitting they unfairly targeted conservative groups.  After multiple inquiries from the Ways and Means Committee, the IRS repeatedly denied that they were targeting conservative grassroots organizations.  

In the letter, Boustany requested the IRS provide:

• All communications containing the words “tea party,” “patriot,” or “conservative,” and;
• Names and titles of all individuals involved in this discrimination.  

In reaction, Boustany stated, “Since the inception of this investigation, the Ways and Means Committee has persistently pushed the IRS to explain why it appeared to be unfairly targeting some political groups over others – a charge they repeatedly denied.  Despite their unwillingness to cooperate, more than a year later, the IRS has now admitted to what we long suspected – it was targeting tea party groups.  My greatest concern is what would have come from this blatant abuse of power if Ways and Means, as well as others, had not spoken up and stepped in to question the IRS about these activities.  The IRS’s ‘too little too late’ response is unacceptable, and I will continue to work to ensure there are protections in place so no American, regardless of political affiliation, has their right to free speech threatened by the IRS.”