Time: Sun Mar 09 04:14:10 1997 by primenet.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id UAA13231; Sat, 8 Mar 1997 20:32:58 -0700 (MST) Date: Sun, 09 Mar 1997 03:35:32 -0800 To: (Recipient list suppressed) From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar] Subject: SLS: [TL] IRS denies politically motivated audits. (fwd) <snip> > WASHINGTON (AP) -- The IRS plans a confidential briefing for the >chairmen of the House and Senate tax-writing panels to rebut allegations >that conservative groups are the targets of politically motivated audits. > Commissioner Margaret Milner Richardson said Wednesday that Sen. >William V. Roth Jr., R-Del., and Rep. Bill Archer, R-Texas, have accepted >her invitation to review the IRS' auditing of tax-exempt groups. Roth >chairs the Senate Finance Committee; Archer heads the House Ways and Means >Committee. > In a move experts say is unprecedented, Richardson asked Roth and >Archer for permission to publicly release confidential taxpayer >information in order to correct factual errors or misstatements concerning >the IRS audits. An Archer spokesman said that r equest is under review. > Richardson told a House Appropriations subcommittee she was making the >unusual request "because of my grave concern about the impact the >allegations may have on the public's confidence in the integrity and >impartiality of the IRS." > "It's certainly very serious. I am very concerned about it," Richardson >said. > The IRS closely guards taxpayer information -- the law requires it -- >and generally releases tax returns only after receiving a written waiver >from taxpayers or for referral to law enforcement agencies. Only a handful >of senior Senate and House staff m embers have clearance to review >confidential taxpayer information. > Lou Carlow, national tax director for Coopers & Lybrand LLP in >Washington, a former IRS executive who handled disclosure matters, said he >couldn't recall any previous request by the IRS to distribute taxpayer >information in order to clear its name. > "What the commission is concerned about is this thing is continuous," >said Carlow, referring to the political audit allegations. "And it might >undermine ... (IRS audits) if people believe the fact that people aren't >being treated fairly and equally." > Several published reports in recent months have accused the IRS of >targeting conservative groups with audits to see if they were abusing >their tax-exempt status by unlawfully engaging in political activities. > There are nearly 20 different types of tax-exempt organizations, but >those organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax law can't engage in >partisan politics or provide benefits to any individual or group. > Such questions about the IRS' impartiality arose during the House >ethics committee investigation of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., who >was ordered to pay $300,000 penalty after making misleading statements >about the financing of a college course h e taught. House investigators >found Gingrich used tax-exempt groups to assist in campaign fund raising. > In addition, several published reports and editorials have questioned >whether an ongoing audit of the Heritage Foundation and others were >politically motivated. > Heritage Foundation spokesman John Von Kannon confirmed the group is >being questioned by IRS auditors about whether it made an illegal >corporate contribution to former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan. > Dole signed a fund-raising letter for the conservative think tank in >exchange for one-time use of the names of people who responded to the >letter. Von Kannon said Heritage Foundation has worked out similar >arrangements with other politicians "and the I RS has been fine with it." > "We have not tried to charge this is politically motivated. We don't >know what their motivation is," Van Kannon said. > Several newspaper articles and editorials suggested the IRS probe of >Heritage was politically tainted. > >!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-! > For comprehensive and easily understood information on how you > can protect your property and assets from taxes, probate, lawsuits, > government forfeiture or seizure, and other "statutory" means used > to deprive you of what belongs to you, check out Asset Protection >Services website at http://www.amug.org/~trusts right now before it's >too late! Your owe it to yourself and your family to educate yourself. > > "The Constitution is a radical document... it is the job of the > government to rein in people's rights." W.J.Clinton on MTV - 1992 > >Democracy: Government by special interests, for special interests. >Free Markets: Government of the People, by the People, for the People. ======================================================================== Paul Andrew, Mitchell, B.A., M.S. : Counselor at Law, federal witness email: [address in tool bar] : Eudora Pro 3.0.1 on Intel 586 CPU web site: http://www.supremelaw.com : library & law school registration ship to: c/o 2509 N. Campbell, #1776 : this is free speech, at its best Tucson, Arizona state : state zone, not the federal zone Postal Zone 85719/tdc : USPS delays first class w/o this ========================================================================
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