Congressman Jim Bridenstine Demands Answers on IRS Harassment Scandal

Congressman Jim Bridenstine (OK-1) stands with Rep. Paul Broun (GA), Senator Ted Cruz (TX), Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN), and others listening to Jenny Beth Martin, founder of Tea Party Patriots, at a news conference today at the Capitol. Martin said, “Government agents have used the IRS as a weapon to silence speech, harass innocent Americans, and perhaps sway elections.”

Washington, DC – Congressman Jim Bridenstine is taking a leadership role in pursuing the truth behind IRS targeting of conservative organizations during the 2012 election cycle.

Mr. Bridenstine drafted a letter on Friday to be sent to Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew, who has ultimate authority over the IRS, seeking further information on this matter.  The letter has been co-signed by over 100 Members of Congress.

Bridenstine joined Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN) in a press conference at the Capitol today to denounce IRS harassment of conservative organizations.  Also participating were Senators Ted Cruz (TX), Mike Lee (UT), Rand Paul (KY) and Mitch McConnell (KY), several other Members of Congress, and representatives of targeted organizations: Jenny Beth Martin, Tea Party Patriots; Amy Kremer, Tea Party Express; Jordan Sekulow, American Center for Law & Justice; Todd Cefaratti, TheTeaParty.Net; Adam Brandon, FreedomWorks; Niger Innis, TheTeaParty.Net; Diane Belson, Laurens County Tea Party; and Tom Zawistowski, Ohio Liberty Coalition.

On Friday, May 10th, the Associated Press published a disturbing report in which officials from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) admitted that they singled out conservative political organizations claiming tax exempt status for additional scrutiny and investigation.

Ms. Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS division that oversees tax exempt groups, admitted that at least 75 organizations were singled out because they included the words “tea party” or “patriot” in their applications for tax exempt status.  While she acknowledged that actions were clearly violations of IRS policies, she laid the blame on “low-level workers” in the Cincinnati IRS office.  She failed to clarify at the time that Cincinnati is not a minor regional office but rather the IRS national office that handles all tax exempt organizations.

Ms. Lerner’s statements directly contradicted the testimony of then-IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman during a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee in March 2012.  At the time, Mr. Shulman stated unequivocally that “there is absolutely no targeting” and that “this is the kind of back and forth that happens to people” who apply for tax exempt status.  In a reversal, on Wednesday the Administration demanded the resignation of Steven Miller, the current Acting Director of the IRS.

The inappropriate and intimidating investigation tactics included probing questions about organizations’ board members, officers, employees, and their families.  There were also demands for extraordinary detail on employee training, vending, and advertising.  Among other IRS demands, they required lists of “all issues important to your organization” with requests to “indicate your position regarding each issue.”  Tea Party organizations reported requests for complete lists of all the books their staffs had read in the prior 12 months with book reports on each.

Congressman Bridenstine said, “The resignation of Steven Miller does not relieve this Administration from its culpability for creating a political culture that generates harassment and abuse of power by institutions that should be apolitical.”

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Congressman Jim Bridenstine To Host Town Hall May 2nd at NSU Broken Arrow

U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine

What: Congressman Jim Bridenstine (OK-1) will hold a town hall meeting next week at the Northeastern State University Broken Arrow Campus.

Who: Congressman Jim Bridenstine represents Oklahoma’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a Navy pilot and combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and lives with his wife Michelle and their three children Walker (6), Sarah (4), and Grant (1) in Tulsa, OK. Bridenstine graduated from Rice University with degrees in economics, business and psychology. After college, he joined the Navy and became a pilot, flying combat missions off the USS Abraham Lincoln in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Southern Watch in Iraq, and Operation Shock and Awe in Iraq. Later, he transitioned to the F-18 Hornet fighter at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, the parent command to TOPGUN, where he flew “Red Air” and was also an instructor.

Why: The focus of the town hall meeting will be to discuss the recent events in Washington D.C. with constituents of the First District and to answer the questions and concerns of the attendees.

Who Should Attend: First District Constituents

When and Where: Thursday, 5/2/13, 12:00pm in the auditorium at Northeastern State University Broken Arrow Campus.  3100 E. New Orleans, Broken Arrow, OK 74014.

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Congressman Jim Bridenstine Works to De-Fund Obamacare

U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine

Congressman Jim Bridenstine voted against the “Continuing Resolution” in the U.S. House of Representatives today.  The Continuing Resolution (CR) is legislation whereby Congress authorizes continued funding of government operations in the absence of a budget.  The Obama Administration has not submitted a budget as required by law, so Congress must act to appropriate funds.  Congressman Bridenstine has no desire to “shut down the government” but saw this up or down vote as a strong opportunity to de-fund implementation of the widely unpopular and expensive Obamacare programs.

Mr. Bridenstine commented:

“As the IRS moves to collect billions in fees for Obamacare and the Department of Health and Human Services continues to promulgate complex new rules for businesses and individuals to implement the unpopular and unworkable law, today I voted against the Continuing Resolution (CR).

“The CR was filled with line items to eliminate specific types of personnel and agency funding, so it would have been perfectly appropriate for the CR to include line items de-funding the personnel and agencies working furiously to force Obamacare on the American people.  I sponsored an amendment to de-fund Obamacare within the CR and argued for its inclusion before the House Rules Committee, but the Rules Committee denied opportunity for the amendment.

“This administration continues to fund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers within Obamacare, while requiring all insurance plans cover abortion inducing drugs.  Since the CR does nothing to stop the implementation of Obamacare and we are running out of opportunities to do so, I felt compelled to vote ‘No’.”

Congressman Jim Bridenstine To Hold A Series Of Town Halls February 18th, 19th, and 21st

What: Congressman Jim Bridenstine (OK-1) will hold a series of town hall meetings next week in Owasso, Bixby and Dewey.

Who: Congressman Jim Bridenstine represents Oklahoma’s First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a Navy pilot and combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and lives with his wife Michelle and their three children Walker (6), Sarah (4), and Grant (1) in Tulsa, OK. Bridenstine graduated from Rice University with degrees in economics, business and psychology. After college, he joined the Navy and became a pilot, flying combat missions off the USS Abraham Lincoln in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Southern Watch in Iraq, and Operation Shock and Awe in Iraq. Later, he transitioned to the F-18 Hornet fighter at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, the parent command to TOPGUN, where he flew “Red Air” and was also an instructor.

Why: The focus of the town hall meetings will be to discuss the recent events in Washington D.C. with constituents of the First District and to address the questions and concerns of the attendees.

Who Should Attend: First District Constituents

When and Where: Monday, 2/18/13, 6:30pm at the Bailey Ranch Clubhouse, 10105 Larkin Bailey Blvd, Owasso, Oklahoma 74055; Tuesday, 2/19/13, 6:30pm at the Bixby Public Library, 20 E Breckenridge Ave, Bixby, OK 74008; Thursday, 2/21/13, 6:30pm at the Tyler Memorial Library, 821 N. Shawnee Ave, Dewey, OK 7402

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Congressman Jim Bridenstine To Hold A Series Of Town Hall Meetings

U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine

 

 

 

 

 

 

What: Congressman Jim Bridenstine (OK-1) will hold a series of town hall meetings next week in Tulsa County, Wagoner County and Washington County.

Who: Congressman Jim Bridenstine is a Navy pilot and combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and lives with his wife Michelle and their three children Walker (6), Sarah (4), and Grant (10 mos.) in Tulsa, OK. Bridenstine graduated from Rice University with degrees in economics, business and psychology. After college, he joined the Navy and became a pilot, flying combat missions off the USS Abraham Lincoln in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Operation Southern Watch in Iraq, and Operation Shock and Awe in Iraq. Later, he transitioned to the F-18 Hornet fighter at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, the parent command to TOPGUN, where he flew “Red Air” and was also an instructor.

Why: The focus of the town hall meetings will be to discuss the recent events in Washington D.C. with constituents of the Oklahoma’s First District and to answer the questions and concerns of the attendees.

Who Should Attend: First District Constituents

When and Where: Monday, 1/28/13, 6:30pm at CityPlex Towers, 2448 E. 81st Street, 20 Story Tower Auditorium; Tuesday, 1/29/13, 6:30pm at the Coweta City Hall, 310 S. Broadway St. Coweta, OK 74429; Thursday, 1/31/13, 6:30pm at Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Lyon Hall, 2201 Silver Lake Road, Bartlesville, OK.

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