PETA: IRS 'harassment' not new

PETA: IRS 'harassment' not new

Jeffrey Kerr, general counsel to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, sent a letter to the Treasury Department on Thursday asking that the IRS’s inquiry into its own misconduct also include an analysis of three audits of PETA (1990 to 1992, 2003 to 2005 and 2009).

“I can assure you that targeted misconduct by the IRS is neither new nor limited to conservative causes,” Kerr writes in the letter. “PETA’s harassment by the IRS includes the 20-month audit in 2003 to 2005 and another in 2009,

both of which resulted from what the IRS agents admitted—and we have verified from Freedom of Information Act materials—were politically motivated attacks and pressure by members of Congress who were doing the bidding of the meat, dairy, experimentation, tobacco, and other industries whose animal-abusing practices PETA opposes.

PETA came through all three audits with a clean bill of health but endured an unconscionable diversion of charity resources to fend off these attacks on its tax-exempt status, which were reminiscent of the Nixon years and tactics more commonly attributed to totalitarian regimes.”

Read more: www.politico.com...

So it would seem that the IRS has been used as a political tool in the past...except for PETA...it was at the direction of Congressmen who got money from industries PETA opposed.

The other difference is that this President is actually doing something about it..

A second senior official is leaving the Internal Revenue Service, according to an agency statement. Joseph Grant, the commissioner of the agency’s tax exempt and government entities division, will retire on June 3.

Grant oversees the division that gave extra scrutiny to conservative groups seeking nonprofit status. His resignation follows that of acting commissioner Steven Miller, who is stepping down at the request of the Obama administration.

Read more: www.politico.com...

reply to post by Indigo5


Hmmmmm, so he is retiring huh? Does that mean he is getting a nice government pension at the expense of the American tax slaves?

Doesn't sound like much of a punishment for wrong doing to me!


Sounds like another fall guy for the administration too! This just out by ABC news!!!!
Above Top Secret

PeTA should not be tax exempt. And people should give their head a shake for supporting them.

Any group that supports home grown terrorism, pays for legal fees for fire bombings arsonists, encourages youth to break the law, etc - should be shut down immediately.

Oh, they also kill 90% of the animals they take in. Sound ethical to you?

They should be called PuTA - People for the Unethical Treatment of Animals.

Originally posted by seeker1963
reply to post by Indigo5

 

Hmmmmm, so he is retiring huh? Does that mean he is getting a nice government pension at the expense of the American tax slaves?

There are multiple investigations ongoing. My guess is that these two (#1 and #2) are symbolic. In addition they canned the folks at the Ohio office of the IRS that were doing this.

If any of the investigations, both GOP/COngress and Administration plus IRS show ethical breach, etc. those folks can be stripped of thier pension.

With it being as high profile and partisan as it is and investigations comming from all directions, I suspect anyone culpable is going to be hammered.

reply to post by TFCJay


First...I'd imagine if that was able to be PROVEN then the justice department under GW or Obama would have pursued it.

Second the IRS isn't the agency for that.

how much you want to bet the IRS is full of pet lovers. And the moment they were told peta wants to kill everyone's pets this crap got started.

Really? PETA? who the hell cares

You could go back to the mafia days and Al Capone. The IRS is not separated from the other branches of government. They have all ways been used as a tool by the other branches. In Al Capones case the DOJ used the IRS to get him on tax evasion because they could not make any thing else stick.

Originally posted by JBA2848
You could go back to the mafia days and Al Capone. The IRS is not separated from the other branches of government. They have all ways been used as a tool by the other branches. In Al Capones case the DOJ used the IRS to get him on tax evasion because they could not make any thing else stick.

Absolutely correct. As an accountant, this relationship was actually part of the curriculum for tax accounting. One of my tax professors outright stated that the IRS was used to target those who the DoJ could find no evidence of wrongdoing in. There was even a conversation about this aspect on ATS here a few months back where I mentioned this relationship in regards to having to report even illegally obtained income (how they may catch drug dealers and whatnot). It's less harassment and more trying to see if they can nail them for tax evasion, which would prompt the loss of 501 (c) non profit status. So, really not surprised that they were targeting some groups for audit regardless of which side of the political spectrum they were on.

Time to disband the IRS but Obama needs them for his healthcare plan. I heard Obama is even buying them their own uniforms.

If the IRS hassle PETA then they're okay in my book!

Originally posted by Hopechest
Time to disband the IRS but Obama needs them for his healthcare plan. I heard Obama is even buying them their own uniforms.

You know, I was fully planning on applying for the IRS about a year or so ago. Now that I see that uniform, I'm so glad that I didn't because that color would not look good on me...

That said, I do think that the IRS should definitely get slapped for politically motivated audits and should be sticking to actual flagged for good reason audits (suspicion of evasion) and potential criminals (like Capone). A federal agency should not be swayed by party politics...ever.

Originally posted by WhiteAlice
. So, really not surprised that they were targeting some groups for audit regardless of which side of the political spectrum they were on.

What is kind of interesting is that the whole 501(c) status is premised on these groups purportedly being "non-political"...So by these groups crying foul that they were targeted for thier politics...aren't they admitting wrongdoing? admitting that they aren't a "social cause" group but rather a "partisan political" org?

And for those that are happy about Peta being targeted...

First they came for...yada yada...

Otherwise, it shouldn't be tolerated whatever the group.

reply to post by Indigo5

And for those that are happy about Peta being targeted...

First they came for...yada yada...

Otherwise, it shouldn't be tolerated whatever the group.

Although I agree 100% with that "First they came for................" I am really shocked that you used it!





The Constitution applies to every citizen of the United States of America, REGARDLESS of political affiliations!!!!!

If only those whom bind their lives base upon political affiliations could RECOGNIZE how the old tactic of Divide and Conquer is being use to separate us instead of realizing that the power lies with the citizens whom shed their partisan beliefs???????

Your close, real close, but you have some more work to get there!

Originally posted by seeker1963
reply to post by Indigo5

 

And for those that are happy about Peta being targeted...

First they came for...yada yada...

Otherwise, it shouldn't be tolerated whatever the group.

Although I agree 100% with that "First they came for................" I am really shocked that you used it!

Confused on what you are confused about?

reply to post by Indigo5

Confused on what you are confused about?

The fact that you defend the Democratic party no matter what! The fact that even though the current Potus has been in office for more than four years that you and others still blame Bush!

Seriously?? I wasn't a member of ATS when Bush was in office Indigo, but if I was I would have sounded like I am a Democrat!!!! I can butcher either political party!

They don't serve us! They RULE US!!!!

Take your previous post where you said "First they came for............." and think about it! Is it NOT clear to you that no matter which party rules that they all seem to have one common denominator???

They create more laws, pander to MORE lobbyists, and by the way???? What country has the most people in prison per capita??????

Someone just made a post on this earlier today I think....................look it up and then tell me we are free.......

reply to post by Indigo5



Google is your friend.

Look up Rodney Coronado while you are there.

Originally posted by AndyMayhew
If the IRS hassle PETA then they're okay in my book!

If the IRS hassles anyone, no matter what their view is, the IRS should be disbanded.

Originally posted by Indigo5

Originally posted by WhiteAlice
. So, really not surprised that they were targeting some groups for audit regardless of which side of the political spectrum they were on.

What is kind of interesting is that the whole 501(c) status is premised on these groups purportedly being "non-political"...So by these groups crying foul that they were targeted for thier politics...aren't they admitting wrongdoing? admitting that they aren't a "social cause" group but rather a "partisan political" org?

Good question! To clear it up: Actually, a political organization can be a 501(c)(3) but they a. cannot support a political candidate and b. have strict limits on lobbying in the attempt to directly influence legislation or indirectly influencing legislation through advising the public to directly contact the legislative body.

www.irs.gov...&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/The-Restriction-of-Political-Campaign-Intervention-by-Section-501%28c%29%283%29-Ta x-Exempt-Organizations
www.irs.gov...&-Non-Profits/Lobbying

The ones that were under improper scrutiny were applying for 501(c)(4) status, which are social welfare groups or groups with a public benefit. 501(c)(4) may engage in lobbying and other political activities if it serves to promote social welfare. End take: Not all 501(c)'s are subject to the same limitations on activities, including political.

A organization can be a 501(c)(3) and give money in the form of grants to another non 501(c)(3) organization that does support a candidate.
Case in point the Tides Foundation.
www.undueinfluence.com...

Or the Hinzes Foundation 501(c)(3)
John Kerry got a lot of money and support while running for for President from this 501(c)(3) run by his wife.
www.undueinfluence.com...