Internal Revenue Service Irregularities

Floor Speech

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have been following very closely reports on irregularities in the Internal Revenue Service's scrutiny of applications for nonprofit status. These allegations, of course, are very troubling, and I intend to take a close look at the inspector general's report when it is released.

Concerns such as these are why we have inspectors general. They are tasked with finding and preventing waste, fraud, and abuse, identifying breaches of law and protocol, and promoting efficiency in government. Our inspectors general have an excellent record of responsibility, and specifically Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, has an exceptionally strong reputation as a watchdog at the IRS. Of course, watching the IRS is also watching the IRS for the American people. I am confident he is examining this issue and doing it very well, as he has done in the past. I look forward to his report.

The alleged actions of IRS employees in the Cincinnati field office would be a terrible breach of the public's trust. Whether they are investigating conservative groups or liberal groups, they should not be involved. Targeting any group based on its political status is completely inappropriate. We need to get to the bottom of what happened, and the inspector general will get to the bottom of this. In the meantime no one should jump to conclusions, but we should all rest assured as soon as we have the inspector general's report the Senate will quickly take appropriate action.

I have spoken today to the senior Senator from Montana, the chairman of the Finance Committee, Max Baucus, and he is looking into this matter in his role as chairman of the Finance Committee. If the inspector general's report indicates further investigation is needed, I have full confidence in the ability of Senator Baucus and the Finance Committee to get to the bottom of this matter and recommend appropriate action.

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