On the recordMay 7, 2014
I thank my friend, the gentlelady from Texas. Mr. Speaker, we have learned a great deal, since the allegations surfaced, that IRS officials discriminated against political-leaning groups that were seeking tax-exempt 501(c)(4) status. I joined with many of my Republican colleagues in condemning the notion that politics in any way influenced the behavior of the IRS. We learned that the IRS kept a list of key words that triggered extra review, a misguided practice that we are grateful has since stopped. We also learned that the IRS targeted more liberal-leaning groups than conservative ones, meaning there was no conservative witch-hunt. What my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have apparently failed to learn, however, is that the clear solution to this problem is to get the IRS out of the business of evaluating political conduct. I wholeheartedly agree with my colleagues that the IRS has no business meddling in our elections, but we don't need a special counsel to make this stop. Applications for 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status exploded after the Citizens United decision because special interests found a new way to secretly funnel money into our elections. Let me tell you how it works. Because these groups aren't required to disclose their donors, wealthy special interests that are bent on influencing the political process for their benefit anonymously give to the 501(c)(4).…
