Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the ability to demand that no dollars flow from America to any terrorist organization has been long recognized in the law as it exists today. In fact, the chairman has conceded that when he says his complaint is that the IRS has not moved fast enough under existing law. This is not a question of inadequate law. It is against the law today to provide support to a terrorist organization, be it exempt or nonexempt. The question here is whether we should change the law to eliminate the right to know the evidence to that effect. Is it just the chairman's claim that something is a terrorist organization? If it is a terrorist organization, why not present the evidence? Why not provide an opportunity for a hearing for that evidence to be tested? Why not provide a meaningful right of appeal? None of these safeguards are there, and they are lacking for a reason. The desire is to be able to weaponize the Treasury with regard to these organizations and to do as has happened under one tyrant after another in another country to claim that the opponents are terrorists, a term that is expansive. Unchecked authority to revoke the nonprofit status of such groups without cause or due process risks Trump truly weaponizing the Treasury Department and destroying civil society organizations across this country.…”