David Bellow will be a guest on Doc Greene's show today, 10/24/2013 at 11 a.m.
Doc Greene's show is part of the great lineup on http://www.ragingelephantsradio.com/
Raging Elephants Radio is a great new, conservative, online streaming radio program headed by Apostle Claver.
You can listen live by clicking on the link above.
We will be discussing a situation in Kountze, TX involving the ATF using the IRS to target a pastor.
Showing posts with label IRS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IRS. Show all posts
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Congressman Stockman Investigating ATF use of IRS & Perjury to Target Kountze, TX Pastor
An ATF agent, Tom Harm, is being investigated for allegedly using the IRS to target a Kountze, TX pastor, Tony Thornton. Harm, a former IRS agent, was caught on a recording telling Mr. Thornton that he is going to snoop around in the pastor’s finances and taxes. Next thing you know, Mr. Thornton’s personal, business and ministry tax returns were all three hit with audits at the same time. Where did at least one of the audits come from? None other than that corrupt Cincinnati, Ohio IRS office that is now famous for targeting conservative groups. The audits all came back clear, but the point is that if it is true that Mr. Thornton was targeted by the IRS via this ATF agent, and the evidence suggests that it is, then this is a HUGE problem. It is illegal and must be stopped.
This is not just about a local pastor and an ATF agent. This is about the ATF having the ability to get the IRS to target anyone they want with an audit. This is one of the big reasons that Congressman Steve Stockman’s office has started an investigation. Regardless of what you think about the pastor, if the ATF agent can target this pastor then who else has he and will he target using the IRS? Who knows, maybe I will be targeted next because the ATF agent does not like this article I wrote?
At the end of this article you can see a copy of the letter that Congressman Stockman sent to the U.S. Attorney’s Beaumont office regarding the possible problems with the ATF and IRS in this case. The previous U.S. Attorney in Beaumont before this current one could not get any indictments against Thornton because the proof was not there to back any case against Thornton. Now with evidence of wrongdoing by the ATF agent and the IRS, the current U.S. Attorney in Beaumont might just have to drop the case. They have already pushed the case back several years.
The Kountze, TX Church Fire – Accusation of a Rouge ATF agent lying, committing perjury, spreading rumors, etc.
In addition to using the IRS to target people, there is also evidence that this ATF agent committed perjury to the Grand Jury in order to get an indictment, spread false rumors, and used his position to oppress members of the East Texas community of Kountze. Heck, the ATF agent even was asked if the interviews with Kountze community members were being recorded and the Agent said no, but then a court ordered the agency to turn over all the evidence and sure enough the meetings with community members were being recorded and the ATF agent is heard in his own recording telling Kountze community members that they were not being recorded.
Again, regardless of what you think happened or did not happen in Kountze, TX, it is wrong for any government agency to act above the law and violate the rights of people. If they do it to this pastor then they can do it to you.
I love the community of Kountze and I loved the church community at First Baptist. It was tragic what happened and I want the truth to come out too. That being said, the community should not have their rights trampled on by the government using unlawful tactics.
Here is how it all started. Several years ago, the First Baptist Church in Kountze, TX burned to the ground.
The ATF comes in to try to find out what happened. They go around town spreading rumors and intimidating people by telling them things like “they are not allowed to tell anyone they were talked to and if they do then the ATF will know.” The intimidation was not getting them anywhere so they then start spreading false rumors such as saying that the Pastor was having an affair with his secretary. A local county official asked the ATF agents why they were saying these blatantly false things and the ATF agent replied and said that they were starting the rumors to stir the community and see if someone comes forward with something true. This of course is outrageous. I respect the ATF’s job of trying to find out how the church burned down, but the government cannot intentionally spread false rumors and intimidate people like this. I suppose it is not all that surprising that the ATF did this considering the ATF allowed thousands of weapons to be sold to Mexican Drug Cartels, and one of the weapons was used to kill a border patrol agent Brian Terry.
Pastor Thornton was the President of the Hardin County Disaster Relief Fund. There was some controversy surrounding this non-profit disaster relief group. Philip Klein of the Southeast Texas Political Review came up with the idea that this group’s secret documents were stored in the church office and so the Pastor must have burned the church to burn the non-profit’s documents. I am currently supporting and writing about Klein’s employee Stephen Hartman who was illegally arrested trying to serve lawsuit papers to corrupt Jefferson County Judge Layne Walker. I cannot support Klein’s belief that the church was burned down because of documents in the church office. How can I be sure? I know there were no documents in the church office because I used to go to First Baptist Church and I worked with the youth group and was in and around every part of the church office. There were no secret rooms with documents.
The ATF of course found NO EVIDENCE at all that any documents were stored in the church. They have found NO EVIDENCE that Pastor Thornton was at all involved in the church burning. They have not even provided any reason why they believe the church burning was even arson. No one has been indicted or charged in connection with the church burning.
The ATF agent did not want to walk away from the investigation empty handed though, so he started looking at the Hardin County Disaster Relief Fund. Sure there were some problems with the fund, but it had nothing to do with the fire. One of the contractors sending invoices to the fund for repairs to hurricane damaged homes was discovered to have sent some invoices in even though no work was done. When Pastor Thornton and the group’s board found out, they took action and put a lien against the construction company to recoup the funds. The Disaster Relief fund no question should have done a better job of making sure the work that was supposed to be done was getting done. Out of hundreds of homes though, most of the money in the fund went to actually help the hurricane victims who needed help. There were even a few who lied on their application to get disaster funds and said they had no money even though they made nearly 100,000 bucks a year. Unfortunately, that happens in all areas of government and it should be cracked down on everywhere, not just in regards to this disaster fund.
Then there was the allegation that it was illegal for some of the materials that the fund purchased had come from Pastor Thornton’s lumber company. This turned out to be a non-issue because Pastor Thornton had denied anyone being able to buy lumber from his yard with Disaster fund money unless the board and State of Texas approved it. The State of Texas sent Pastor Thornton a letter stating that it would not be a conflict of interest and the Board approved it. Even then, materials with the Disaster group’s money were purchased from several different lumber yards, with Pastor Thornton being only one of the many places where materials were purchased. The ATF agent saw this letter from the State and he said that he does not care if the State of Texas said there was no conflict of interest because he is the Federal Government and can trump the State.
Then lastly, there was one true mistake that Pastor Thornton made. Pastor Thornton’s wife was dying and it was expensive. Thornton made the bad decision to take some money out of the disaster fund to pay for his wife’s medical bills. He paid back the money with interest before anyone found out and then he admitted and apologized to the disaster fund board for what he had done even though they would have never had caught him. This was all before any investigations happened. I am not defending these actions. There is no question that this was not the right thing and a big mistake and it would have been stealing had it not been for him paying it back, regardless of the reason Pastor Thornton had to take the money. With the money paid back and the board taking the matter into their own hands and handling it internally, there was no evidence to prosecute for stealing money because, before any investigation, the money was put back.
I am not writing this article to try to say that Tony Thornton did not make mistakes and should not have to answer for his actions to the extent of what is true based on evidence, not rumors and lies. I am not writing this article to say that the church fire was not arson. I am not writing this article because I want to cover up the truth. I do want to know who burned down the church I loved and used to attend. I do want the community of Kountze to heal. I want to make sure government agencies and organizations using government funds are transparent and cut out waste and fraud. That being said, it is wrong for the government to target anyone they want using IRS audits and spreading rumors as part of an investigation technique. It is especially wrong for an agent to lie in order to secure a grand jury indictment. Just provide the facts and evidence and let the Grand Jury decide. Furthermore, as a former member of the church, it is just plain ridiculous to say that the church stored the paperwork and computers of the disaster relief fund. That I do know for a fact.
I applaud Congressman Stockman for standing by his constituents in Hardin County and opening an investigation into the actions of the ATF and IRS handling of this situation. Again, not matter what you might think about the situation and who might have done what, it is wrong for the government to abuse their power because if they do it to one person they can and will do it to others.
Letter from David Covey of Congressman Stockman’s office to the Beaumont U.S. Attorney in charge of the case against Pastor Thornton (letter originally posted online by Philip Klein):
This is not just about a local pastor and an ATF agent. This is about the ATF having the ability to get the IRS to target anyone they want with an audit. This is one of the big reasons that Congressman Steve Stockman’s office has started an investigation. Regardless of what you think about the pastor, if the ATF agent can target this pastor then who else has he and will he target using the IRS? Who knows, maybe I will be targeted next because the ATF agent does not like this article I wrote?
At the end of this article you can see a copy of the letter that Congressman Stockman sent to the U.S. Attorney’s Beaumont office regarding the possible problems with the ATF and IRS in this case. The previous U.S. Attorney in Beaumont before this current one could not get any indictments against Thornton because the proof was not there to back any case against Thornton. Now with evidence of wrongdoing by the ATF agent and the IRS, the current U.S. Attorney in Beaumont might just have to drop the case. They have already pushed the case back several years.
The Kountze, TX Church Fire – Accusation of a Rouge ATF agent lying, committing perjury, spreading rumors, etc.
In addition to using the IRS to target people, there is also evidence that this ATF agent committed perjury to the Grand Jury in order to get an indictment, spread false rumors, and used his position to oppress members of the East Texas community of Kountze. Heck, the ATF agent even was asked if the interviews with Kountze community members were being recorded and the Agent said no, but then a court ordered the agency to turn over all the evidence and sure enough the meetings with community members were being recorded and the ATF agent is heard in his own recording telling Kountze community members that they were not being recorded.
Again, regardless of what you think happened or did not happen in Kountze, TX, it is wrong for any government agency to act above the law and violate the rights of people. If they do it to this pastor then they can do it to you.
I love the community of Kountze and I loved the church community at First Baptist. It was tragic what happened and I want the truth to come out too. That being said, the community should not have their rights trampled on by the government using unlawful tactics.
Here is how it all started. Several years ago, the First Baptist Church in Kountze, TX burned to the ground.
The ATF comes in to try to find out what happened. They go around town spreading rumors and intimidating people by telling them things like “they are not allowed to tell anyone they were talked to and if they do then the ATF will know.” The intimidation was not getting them anywhere so they then start spreading false rumors such as saying that the Pastor was having an affair with his secretary. A local county official asked the ATF agents why they were saying these blatantly false things and the ATF agent replied and said that they were starting the rumors to stir the community and see if someone comes forward with something true. This of course is outrageous. I respect the ATF’s job of trying to find out how the church burned down, but the government cannot intentionally spread false rumors and intimidate people like this. I suppose it is not all that surprising that the ATF did this considering the ATF allowed thousands of weapons to be sold to Mexican Drug Cartels, and one of the weapons was used to kill a border patrol agent Brian Terry.
Pastor Thornton was the President of the Hardin County Disaster Relief Fund. There was some controversy surrounding this non-profit disaster relief group. Philip Klein of the Southeast Texas Political Review came up with the idea that this group’s secret documents were stored in the church office and so the Pastor must have burned the church to burn the non-profit’s documents. I am currently supporting and writing about Klein’s employee Stephen Hartman who was illegally arrested trying to serve lawsuit papers to corrupt Jefferson County Judge Layne Walker. I cannot support Klein’s belief that the church was burned down because of documents in the church office. How can I be sure? I know there were no documents in the church office because I used to go to First Baptist Church and I worked with the youth group and was in and around every part of the church office. There were no secret rooms with documents.
The ATF of course found NO EVIDENCE at all that any documents were stored in the church. They have found NO EVIDENCE that Pastor Thornton was at all involved in the church burning. They have not even provided any reason why they believe the church burning was even arson. No one has been indicted or charged in connection with the church burning.
The ATF agent did not want to walk away from the investigation empty handed though, so he started looking at the Hardin County Disaster Relief Fund. Sure there were some problems with the fund, but it had nothing to do with the fire. One of the contractors sending invoices to the fund for repairs to hurricane damaged homes was discovered to have sent some invoices in even though no work was done. When Pastor Thornton and the group’s board found out, they took action and put a lien against the construction company to recoup the funds. The Disaster Relief fund no question should have done a better job of making sure the work that was supposed to be done was getting done. Out of hundreds of homes though, most of the money in the fund went to actually help the hurricane victims who needed help. There were even a few who lied on their application to get disaster funds and said they had no money even though they made nearly 100,000 bucks a year. Unfortunately, that happens in all areas of government and it should be cracked down on everywhere, not just in regards to this disaster fund.
Then there was the allegation that it was illegal for some of the materials that the fund purchased had come from Pastor Thornton’s lumber company. This turned out to be a non-issue because Pastor Thornton had denied anyone being able to buy lumber from his yard with Disaster fund money unless the board and State of Texas approved it. The State of Texas sent Pastor Thornton a letter stating that it would not be a conflict of interest and the Board approved it. Even then, materials with the Disaster group’s money were purchased from several different lumber yards, with Pastor Thornton being only one of the many places where materials were purchased. The ATF agent saw this letter from the State and he said that he does not care if the State of Texas said there was no conflict of interest because he is the Federal Government and can trump the State.
Then lastly, there was one true mistake that Pastor Thornton made. Pastor Thornton’s wife was dying and it was expensive. Thornton made the bad decision to take some money out of the disaster fund to pay for his wife’s medical bills. He paid back the money with interest before anyone found out and then he admitted and apologized to the disaster fund board for what he had done even though they would have never had caught him. This was all before any investigations happened. I am not defending these actions. There is no question that this was not the right thing and a big mistake and it would have been stealing had it not been for him paying it back, regardless of the reason Pastor Thornton had to take the money. With the money paid back and the board taking the matter into their own hands and handling it internally, there was no evidence to prosecute for stealing money because, before any investigation, the money was put back.
I am not writing this article to try to say that Tony Thornton did not make mistakes and should not have to answer for his actions to the extent of what is true based on evidence, not rumors and lies. I am not writing this article to say that the church fire was not arson. I am not writing this article because I want to cover up the truth. I do want to know who burned down the church I loved and used to attend. I do want the community of Kountze to heal. I want to make sure government agencies and organizations using government funds are transparent and cut out waste and fraud. That being said, it is wrong for the government to target anyone they want using IRS audits and spreading rumors as part of an investigation technique. It is especially wrong for an agent to lie in order to secure a grand jury indictment. Just provide the facts and evidence and let the Grand Jury decide. Furthermore, as a former member of the church, it is just plain ridiculous to say that the church stored the paperwork and computers of the disaster relief fund. That I do know for a fact.
I applaud Congressman Stockman for standing by his constituents in Hardin County and opening an investigation into the actions of the ATF and IRS handling of this situation. Again, not matter what you might think about the situation and who might have done what, it is wrong for the government to abuse their power because if they do it to one person they can and will do it to others.
Letter from David Covey of Congressman Stockman’s office to the Beaumont U.S. Attorney in charge of the case against Pastor Thornton (letter originally posted online by Philip Klein):
Monday, May 20, 2013
Nationwide IRS Protests tomorrow (Tuesday) at offices around the country - Including many in Texas
There will be protest tomorrow, Tuesday, 5/21/2013 at IRS offices nationwide.
These protests will be peaceful and the rallies will be to protest the IRS ILLEGALLY targeting conservative groups
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REPUBLICAN CLUBS OR TEA PARTY GROUP TO FIND OUT WHEN AND WHERE THE NEAREST RALLY WILL BE IN YOUR AREA.
In my area, there will be a rally at the Beaumont, TX IRS office at 11:30am.
the email below about these IRS rallies is from Jeff Sadighi of the Southeast Texas Tea Party:
More details to follow...
Southeast Texas TEA PArty
These protests will be peaceful and the rallies will be to protest the IRS ILLEGALLY targeting conservative groups
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REPUBLICAN CLUBS OR TEA PARTY GROUP TO FIND OUT WHEN AND WHERE THE NEAREST RALLY WILL BE IN YOUR AREA.
In my area, there will be a rally at the Beaumont, TX IRS office at 11:30am.
the email below about these IRS rallies is from Jeff Sadighi of the Southeast Texas Tea Party:
Hello Everyone,
By now you have probably heard about how this
administration allowed the IRS to target and harass TEA Party groups
across America. Tuesday
TEA Party groups across the nation are going to protest at their local
IRS offices across the country to raise awareness to this inexcusable
abuse of power, and how an agency of the federal government engaged in
what could be termed 'terrorism' against groups because the had
'patriot' or TEA Party' in their names, or 'admitted' that their
function was to teach about the Constitution, or seek constitutionally
limited government.
Let that sink-in for a moment...
Please join the Southeast Texas TEA Party on Tuesday May 21 at 11:30am
for a peaceful and civilized demonstration at our local IRS office -
350 Pine St Beaumont, TX 77701 - to raise awareness about this issue.
We will stay through the lunch hour which is when that area of town is
the most active. https://maps.google.com/maps?
Many, including Senator Ted Cruz, say this is
a perfect opportunity to abolish the IRS so we can take the power to
intimidate away from politicians of any party:
See how intimidating and inappropriate the questions were:
Remember, not one person on earth actually
understands the IRS 'Code' and no two tax preparers will ever get the
same tax 'liability' for the average family who has several
'deductions' when given the same information. Money Magazine hs been
proving this for decades:
Some other news stories that discuss this growing scandal:
http://colorlines.com/
Please share some of your lunch-hour and come
join us for this peaceful demonstration, and even if you cannot stay
for the entire time -make your voice heard. At least 53% of Americans
would love to see the IRS become an old painful memory!
More details to follow...
Southeast Texas TEA PArty
Sunday, May 19, 2013
James Dobson: IRS Stonewalled Christian Family Org for Being 'Critical of the President'
The following is by Debra Heine of Breitbart.com: http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2013/05/18/IRS-Rep-Told-Dr-James-Dobson-His-Application-Was-Rejected-Because-He-Had-Been-Critical-Of-President
“Do you want to rewrite your application and resubmit it?” she asked Dobson's lawyer. He answered, “no, we’ll just have to litigate”, and about eight days later they got their 501(c)(4).
Dr. James Dobson was a guest on the Hannity show Friday night to talk about the treatment his Christian, pro-family, group, Family Talk Action got from the IRS when they applied for a 501(c)(4), a process he said “went on and on and on” for 19 months.
When his lawyer called the IRS to find out what the problem was, an IRS rep named Medley told him, “we don’t think we’re going to approve your application.” When he asked, why, she answered, "because you’re a right wing organization, and you’re political, and you’ve been critical of the President and we don’t think you give other people an opportunity to express their views, and besides that – you’re not educational.” An answer Dr. Dobson took great umbrage at.“Do you want to rewrite your application and resubmit it?” she asked Dobson's lawyer. He answered, “no, we’ll just have to litigate”, and about eight days later they got their 501(c)(4).
IRS Targeted Conservative Hispanic Group in Texas - Voces Action Adryana Boyne
Adryana Boyne is a great Hispanic Republican who has a group (Voces Action) that draws Hispanic to the Republican Party by showing Hispanics that their conervative values are in line with Republicans, NOT Democrats.
I am sure Obama and the Democrats hate this because they want minorities to think that the Democrt Party is the only party for minorities.
Well surprie surprise, look who got targeted by the IRS!
The following article is from Brandon Darby of Beritbart.com: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/05/15/IRS-Targeted-Conservative-Hispanic-Outreach-Group
The IRS’s targeting of Tea Party groups went even further than has been revealed. A conservative Hispanic outreach group that educates Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Hispanic communities on the US Constitution was also targeted after applying for 501(c3) status, according to the group’s founder and president, Adryana Boyne.
Boyne's organization, named Voces Action, also applied for 501(c4) status. Boyne said she abandoned her 501(c3) efforts due to the IRS’s treatment of her. “I spent thousands of dollars on attorneys and hundreds of hours dealing with the IRS on this. Our groups had separate boards and followed all of the laws,” said Boyne.
“We applied for nonprofit status in June of 2009 and we did not hear back from them until late 2010, even though we began calling them after six months had passed,” said Boyne. “We received the same kind of intrusive questions that Tea Party groups received. We are not a Tea Party group, but I have spoken at some Tea Parties.”
Though Boyne’s group only focused on educating Hispanic communities on the US Constitution and on conservative social and economic values, she said her group was treated unfairly.
“We did everything according to the law but we were treated like criminals,” Boyne concluded.
I am sure Obama and the Democrats hate this because they want minorities to think that the Democrt Party is the only party for minorities.
Well surprie surprise, look who got targeted by the IRS!
The following article is from Brandon Darby of Beritbart.com: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/05/15/IRS-Targeted-Conservative-Hispanic-Outreach-Group
IRS Targeted Conservative Hispanic Outreach Group
The IRS’s targeting of Tea Party groups went even further than has been revealed. A conservative Hispanic outreach group that educates Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Hispanic communities on the US Constitution was also targeted after applying for 501(c3) status, according to the group’s founder and president, Adryana Boyne.
Boyne's organization, named Voces Action, also applied for 501(c4) status. Boyne said she abandoned her 501(c3) efforts due to the IRS’s treatment of her. “I spent thousands of dollars on attorneys and hundreds of hours dealing with the IRS on this. Our groups had separate boards and followed all of the laws,” said Boyne.
“We applied for nonprofit status in June of 2009 and we did not hear back from them until late 2010, even though we began calling them after six months had passed,” said Boyne. “We received the same kind of intrusive questions that Tea Party groups received. We are not a Tea Party group, but I have spoken at some Tea Parties.”
Though Boyne’s group only focused on educating Hispanic communities on the US Constitution and on conservative social and economic values, she said her group was treated unfairly.
The IRS sent us 27 pages of questions, they demanded recordings of every speech I’ve ever given and details about every person I know who is a politician in my life. They demanded to know how many times I had met with them and details of my personal relationships with them. Many of my closest friends are politicians and they wanted private information about my friendships.The questions Boyne and her Voces Action group received were not only exhaustive and intrusive, but the IRS also demanded the 27 pages be answered in full within two weeks, according to Boyne. “They would say, ‘If you do not answer in the next two weeks, your application will be terminated and you will need to reapply.’”
“We did everything according to the law but we were treated like criminals,” Boyne concluded.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
IRS Told Pro-Life Group Not to Picket Planned Parenthood
Article below from Todd Starnes of Fox News Radio: http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/irs-told-pro-life-group-not-to-picket-planned-parenthood.html
The Internal Revenue Service allegedly told an Iowa pro-life group they had to sign documents promising not to protest or picket Planned Parenthood and they told a Texas pro-life organization they had to promote abortion, according to documents obtained by Fox News.
FOLLOW TODD ON FACEBOOK FOR CULTURE WAR NEWS. CLICK HERE TO JOIN!
“The IRS was concerned about advocacy,” said Sally Wagenmaker, special counsel to the Thomas More Society. “The (agent) said picketing and protesting is not allowed.”
She said the IRS’s role “should only be to determine whether organizations fit the section 501(c)(3) test for ‘charitable, religious, or educational’ qualification, not to inquire about the content of prayers, protests, and petitions.”
It’s high time that the IRS be called to account for its workers’ potential to trample on our constitutional rights, through such ostensibly innocuous means,” Wagenmaker said – hinting that this may only be the tip of the iceberg of IRS abuses.
An IRS spokesman said they would look into the cases.
Wagenmaker was representing Coalition for Life of Iowa and Christian Voices For Life of Fort Bend County, Texas. Both groups were seeking tax exempt status. Their requests were eventually granted but only after they sought legal help from the Thomas More Society.
In 2009 the Coalition for Life received correspondence from the IRS raising questions about their prayer activity – specifically outside Planned Parenthood clinics.
“You then asked … to have all Coalition Board members sign a statement that the coalition will not ‘picket’ or ‘protest’ outside of Planned Parenthood or similar organizations and will not ‘organize’ others to do so,” Wagenmaker wrote in a letter to an IRS representative known only as “Ms. Richards.”
Wagenmaker said the IRS’s demand was clearly a violation of the pro-life group’s constitutional rights.
“It really concerned me there would seem to be this protection of Planned Parenthood,” Wagenmaker told Fox News. “They had revenues of $55 million and the Coalition is just a group of volunteers.”
The attorney wrote in her letter to the IRS that their demands “come perilously close to violating the First Amendment constitutional rights of the Coalition’s supporters.”
“The IRS’s delay and questioning of the Coalition’s tax-exempt, legitimate activities constitutes unnecessary and prejudicial interference with the Coalition’s legal right to a tax-exempt determination,” she wrote.
Wagenmaker said the IRS’s dogged pursuit of the Coalition was “intimidating” and “heavy-handed.”
In the case of Christian Voices, the IRS implied that the group had to include pro-abortion balance to their programming.
They were directed to explain whether the group’s educational programs educate both sides of the issues.
“Your question implies some sort of legal duty to provide a balanced presentation of educational information,” the attorney wrote.
She said it was incredible to think that the government wanted to require a pro-life group to give equal access to pro-choice groups.
“You can’t push an organization around like that,” she said. “You can’t impose your own out-dated, improper, unconstitutional views.”
Shortly after Wagenmaker began pushing back – the groups got their exemptions approved.
“They just needed someone to stand up for their rights and push back,” she said.
read rest of article here: http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/irs-told-pro-life-group-not-to-picket-planned-parenthood.html
The Internal Revenue Service allegedly told an Iowa pro-life group they had to sign documents promising not to protest or picket Planned Parenthood and they told a Texas pro-life organization they had to promote abortion, according to documents obtained by Fox News.
FOLLOW TODD ON FACEBOOK FOR CULTURE WAR NEWS. CLICK HERE TO JOIN!
“The IRS was concerned about advocacy,” said Sally Wagenmaker, special counsel to the Thomas More Society. “The (agent) said picketing and protesting is not allowed.”
She said the IRS’s role “should only be to determine whether organizations fit the section 501(c)(3) test for ‘charitable, religious, or educational’ qualification, not to inquire about the content of prayers, protests, and petitions.”
It’s high time that the IRS be called to account for its workers’ potential to trample on our constitutional rights, through such ostensibly innocuous means,” Wagenmaker said – hinting that this may only be the tip of the iceberg of IRS abuses.
An IRS spokesman said they would look into the cases.
Wagenmaker was representing Coalition for Life of Iowa and Christian Voices For Life of Fort Bend County, Texas. Both groups were seeking tax exempt status. Their requests were eventually granted but only after they sought legal help from the Thomas More Society.
In 2009 the Coalition for Life received correspondence from the IRS raising questions about their prayer activity – specifically outside Planned Parenthood clinics.
“You then asked … to have all Coalition Board members sign a statement that the coalition will not ‘picket’ or ‘protest’ outside of Planned Parenthood or similar organizations and will not ‘organize’ others to do so,” Wagenmaker wrote in a letter to an IRS representative known only as “Ms. Richards.”
Wagenmaker said the IRS’s demand was clearly a violation of the pro-life group’s constitutional rights.
“It really concerned me there would seem to be this protection of Planned Parenthood,” Wagenmaker told Fox News. “They had revenues of $55 million and the Coalition is just a group of volunteers.”
The attorney wrote in her letter to the IRS that their demands “come perilously close to violating the First Amendment constitutional rights of the Coalition’s supporters.”
“The IRS’s delay and questioning of the Coalition’s tax-exempt, legitimate activities constitutes unnecessary and prejudicial interference with the Coalition’s legal right to a tax-exempt determination,” she wrote.
Wagenmaker said the IRS’s dogged pursuit of the Coalition was “intimidating” and “heavy-handed.”
In the case of Christian Voices, the IRS implied that the group had to include pro-abortion balance to their programming.
They were directed to explain whether the group’s educational programs educate both sides of the issues.
“Your question implies some sort of legal duty to provide a balanced presentation of educational information,” the attorney wrote.
She said it was incredible to think that the government wanted to require a pro-life group to give equal access to pro-choice groups.
“You can’t push an organization around like that,” she said. “You can’t impose your own out-dated, improper, unconstitutional views.”
Shortly after Wagenmaker began pushing back – the groups got their exemptions approved.
“They just needed someone to stand up for their rights and push back,” she said.
read rest of article here: http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/irs-told-pro-life-group-not-to-picket-planned-parenthood.html
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Rep. Stockman: Investigate IRS audits of Obamacare critics reported to White House
from Washington Examiner:
Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, asked two House committees to investigate IRS audits of people reported to the White House as critics of Obamacare.
“Government reforms adopted after Watergate prohibit the White House from coordinating with the IRS to target citizens,” Stockman said in a statement today. “We know White House critics were targeted by the IRS. We know the White House maintained an active enemies list through Flag@WhiteHouse.gov. Investigators must find out how targets were picked and what, if any, White House personnel knew about it.”
Stockman based his call on a comment from Redstate’s Erick Erickson. “Remember that website Obama set up to report neighbors who opposed Obamacare?” Erickson tweeted yesterday. “A friend reported himself and got audited shortly thereafter.”
read rest of article here: http://washingtonexaminer.com/rep.-stockman-investigate-irs-audits-of-obamacare-critics-reported-to-white-house/article/2529639
Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, asked two House committees to investigate IRS audits of people reported to the White House as critics of Obamacare.
“Government reforms adopted after Watergate prohibit the White House from coordinating with the IRS to target citizens,” Stockman said in a statement today. “We know White House critics were targeted by the IRS. We know the White House maintained an active enemies list through Flag@WhiteHouse.gov. Investigators must find out how targets were picked and what, if any, White House personnel knew about it.”
Stockman based his call on a comment from Redstate’s Erick Erickson. “Remember that website Obama set up to report neighbors who opposed Obamacare?” Erickson tweeted yesterday. “A friend reported himself and got audited shortly thereafter.”
read rest of article here: http://washingtonexaminer.com/rep.-stockman-investigate-irs-audits-of-obamacare-critics-reported-to-white-house/article/2529639
Saturday, May 11, 2013
IRS Admits Unconstitutionally Targeting Conservative Tea Party Groups during Obama Election
the following is from Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/10/irs-apologizes-for-targeting-conservative-groups/
Tea Party groups, Republicans slam IRS for flagging conservative groups
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Texas Pastor Joins over 1000 Pastors In Act Of Civil Disobedience by Preaching Politics from Pulpit
Brother Dykes is the Pastor at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler.
PASTOR DAVID O. DYKES
SPEAKS ON PULPIT FREEDOM SUNDAY
October 7, 2012
Today, I’m joining over 1,500 pastors in America to speak truthfully and plainly about moral and
spiritual issues that have also become political issues. We’re calling this day Pulpit Freedom
Sunday. We’re humbly committing an act of civil disobedience in violating the IRS regulation
that dictates that churches should not speak about political issues. I have not made this decision
rashly or alone. I have been in consultation with leading pastors around the nation and I have
given full disclosure of my intent to our church leaders and I’m taking personal responsibility for
my statements today. Please allow me to take five minutes to give you the background behind
this action.
Since our nation’s founding, pastors had the freedom to speak boldly on any and every subject—
including politics. The fervor for rebellion against King George was sounded in the pulpits, and
the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired in front of a church whose members had
assembled at the direction of their pastor, Rev. Jonas Clarke. For two hundred years pastors were
free to speak the truth without restriction, but this changed in 1954. What happened? It started
right here in Texas with a famous politician named Lyndon Baines Johnson. He was elected as a
U.S. Senator in 1948 by a whopping 87 votes. That gained him the humorous nickname,
“Landslide Johnson.”
When LBJ was running for reelection in 1954 there were two powerful men who thought he was
soft on communism so they endorsed his opponent. These two men were Texas Oil Man H.L.
Hunt who had a non-profit organization called Facts Forum. The other was the media mogul
Frank E. Gannett who had a non-profit organization called The Committee for Constitutional
Government. LBJ didn’t like their support of his opponent, so he decided to muzzle them. He
went to the floor of the Senate on July 2, 1954 and he added an amendment to a large tax
overhaul bill. His now infamous amendment read: “Non-profit tax-exempt entities cannot
participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any
political campaign on behalf of—or in opposition to—any candidate for public office.”
This amendment was never debated in committee or on the floor of the Senate, and the entire bill
passed with a voice vote. LBJ smiled, knowing he had silenced his opponents. What he never
realized was that churches are tax-exempt entities, and his amendment effectively muzzled
pastors from speaking out on political issues. I believe one of the reasons our nation is in such a
moral mess is because pastors have been afraid of the government coming in and shutting us
down if we said anything that smacked of politics. I believe the Johnson amendment is
unconstitutional because it violates the freedom granted by an earlier amendment—the First
Amendment—that says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” Speaking as a pastor, I can testify that the
Johnson amendment has muzzled the free exercise of religion and the freedom of speech in the
pulpit. So I’m one of those pastors who prefer the First Amendment. And there is an ever higher
calling than the First Amendment. God Almighty has called us to speak the truth in love.
Now I hate politics. I’ve said before the word politics comes from two words, “poly” meaning
“many” and “ticks” meaning, “blood sucking pests.” So I’m not talking politics today. I’m
talking about MORAL issues that have become politicized. When it comes to moral issues like
abortion and the definition of marriage, we’re facing an election where the choices have never
been clearer. Even President Obama pointed this out when he accepted the Democratic
nomination on September 6, 2012. He said, “When you pick up that ballot to vote—you will
face the clearest choice of any time in a generation. On every issue, the choice you face
won’t be just between two candidates or two parties. It will be a choice between two
different paths for America.”
He is exactly right. And as I think of the words of Joel, one pathway will take us further away
from God and His Word and the other pathway will return us to God’s standard of morality. I
challenge each of you to go online and simply Google “DNC platform” and “RNC platform.”
You can read for yourself the position of the two parties on these two biblical issues. The
Democratic platform recommits itself to Roe v. Wade and pledges to continue the killing of
unborn babies. For the first time in American history they have gone on record as saying they are
committed to overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union
between a man and a woman. They pledge to replace it with what they are calling the Respect for
Marriage Act, which will force every state to accept same-sex unions as marriage. Then you read
that the Republican platform pledges to protect life in the womb and protect the definition of
marriage as the union of a one man and a woman. These moral issues that the Bible addresses
have become politicized and for that reason many pastors have been too intimidated to speak
clearly about them. Are they Biblical or Political? 40 years ago if I had preached from Jeremiah
1 and said that ripping a baby from its mother’s womb is murder, no one would have disagreed.
Today, people say, “Pastor you’re too political!” 30 years ago if I had said in a message from
Romans 1 that homosexual behavior is sin, no one would have disagreed. Today, people say,
“Pastor you’re too political!” 20 years ago if I had taught that Jesus said in Matthew 19 that
marriage is between one man and one woman no one would have disagreed. Today, people say,
“Pastor you’re too political!”
I can’t tell you how to vote, and our church can’t endorse a candidate. But I’m going to tell you
how I’m voting. And in the interest of respect for all people, I’m asking that after I make the next
statement that there be no outburst of response—whether it’s applause or booing. Because of the
position of the Republican party in regard to these two moral and political issues, on November
6, I’m going to vote for Governor Romney … And since I’ve gone that far, I’ll go ahead and tell
you that I’m voting for Louie Gohmert as well.
PASTOR DAVID O. DYKES
SPEAKS ON PULPIT FREEDOM SUNDAY
October 7, 2012
Today, I’m joining over 1,500 pastors in America to speak truthfully and plainly about moral and
spiritual issues that have also become political issues. We’re calling this day Pulpit Freedom
Sunday. We’re humbly committing an act of civil disobedience in violating the IRS regulation
that dictates that churches should not speak about political issues. I have not made this decision
rashly or alone. I have been in consultation with leading pastors around the nation and I have
given full disclosure of my intent to our church leaders and I’m taking personal responsibility for
my statements today. Please allow me to take five minutes to give you the background behind
this action.
Since our nation’s founding, pastors had the freedom to speak boldly on any and every subject—
including politics. The fervor for rebellion against King George was sounded in the pulpits, and
the first shots of the Revolutionary War were fired in front of a church whose members had
assembled at the direction of their pastor, Rev. Jonas Clarke. For two hundred years pastors were
free to speak the truth without restriction, but this changed in 1954. What happened? It started
right here in Texas with a famous politician named Lyndon Baines Johnson. He was elected as a
U.S. Senator in 1948 by a whopping 87 votes. That gained him the humorous nickname,
“Landslide Johnson.”
When LBJ was running for reelection in 1954 there were two powerful men who thought he was
soft on communism so they endorsed his opponent. These two men were Texas Oil Man H.L.
Hunt who had a non-profit organization called Facts Forum. The other was the media mogul
Frank E. Gannett who had a non-profit organization called The Committee for Constitutional
Government. LBJ didn’t like their support of his opponent, so he decided to muzzle them. He
went to the floor of the Senate on July 2, 1954 and he added an amendment to a large tax
overhaul bill. His now infamous amendment read: “Non-profit tax-exempt entities cannot
participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any
political campaign on behalf of—or in opposition to—any candidate for public office.”
This amendment was never debated in committee or on the floor of the Senate, and the entire bill
passed with a voice vote. LBJ smiled, knowing he had silenced his opponents. What he never
realized was that churches are tax-exempt entities, and his amendment effectively muzzled
pastors from speaking out on political issues. I believe one of the reasons our nation is in such a
moral mess is because pastors have been afraid of the government coming in and shutting us
down if we said anything that smacked of politics. I believe the Johnson amendment is
unconstitutional because it violates the freedom granted by an earlier amendment—the First
Amendment—that says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;” Speaking as a pastor, I can testify that the
Johnson amendment has muzzled the free exercise of religion and the freedom of speech in the
pulpit. So I’m one of those pastors who prefer the First Amendment. And there is an ever higher
calling than the First Amendment. God Almighty has called us to speak the truth in love.
Now I hate politics. I’ve said before the word politics comes from two words, “poly” meaning
“many” and “ticks” meaning, “blood sucking pests.” So I’m not talking politics today. I’m
talking about MORAL issues that have become politicized. When it comes to moral issues like
abortion and the definition of marriage, we’re facing an election where the choices have never
been clearer. Even President Obama pointed this out when he accepted the Democratic
nomination on September 6, 2012. He said, “When you pick up that ballot to vote—you will
face the clearest choice of any time in a generation. On every issue, the choice you face
won’t be just between two candidates or two parties. It will be a choice between two
different paths for America.”
He is exactly right. And as I think of the words of Joel, one pathway will take us further away
from God and His Word and the other pathway will return us to God’s standard of morality. I
challenge each of you to go online and simply Google “DNC platform” and “RNC platform.”
You can read for yourself the position of the two parties on these two biblical issues. The
Democratic platform recommits itself to Roe v. Wade and pledges to continue the killing of
unborn babies. For the first time in American history they have gone on record as saying they are
committed to overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union
between a man and a woman. They pledge to replace it with what they are calling the Respect for
Marriage Act, which will force every state to accept same-sex unions as marriage. Then you read
that the Republican platform pledges to protect life in the womb and protect the definition of
marriage as the union of a one man and a woman. These moral issues that the Bible addresses
have become politicized and for that reason many pastors have been too intimidated to speak
clearly about them. Are they Biblical or Political? 40 years ago if I had preached from Jeremiah
1 and said that ripping a baby from its mother’s womb is murder, no one would have disagreed.
Today, people say, “Pastor you’re too political!” 30 years ago if I had said in a message from
Romans 1 that homosexual behavior is sin, no one would have disagreed. Today, people say,
“Pastor you’re too political!” 20 years ago if I had taught that Jesus said in Matthew 19 that
marriage is between one man and one woman no one would have disagreed. Today, people say,
“Pastor you’re too political!”
I can’t tell you how to vote, and our church can’t endorse a candidate. But I’m going to tell you
how I’m voting. And in the interest of respect for all people, I’m asking that after I make the next
statement that there be no outburst of response—whether it’s applause or booing. Because of the
position of the Republican party in regard to these two moral and political issues, on November
6, I’m going to vote for Governor Romney … And since I’ve gone that far, I’ll go ahead and tell
you that I’m voting for Louie Gohmert as well.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Illegal Immigrants Getting BILLIONS more in Tax Refunds than Citizens by Claiming Children in Mexico
The following is an email from Donna Garner:
4.27.12 -- WTHR.com – Indianapolis Channel 13
IRS Tax Loophole Costs Taxpayers Billions
Millions of illegal immigrants are getting a bigger tax refund than you. Eyewitness News shows a massive tax loophole that provides billions of dollars in tax credits to undocumented workers and, in many cases, people who have never stepped foot in the United States. And you are paying for it!
Link to three-minute video -- http://www.wthr.com/video?
==============================
ACTION STEP: Congress may be voting on a budget measure in the coming weeks, and a budget reconciliation package now being considered in the House of Representatives contains language that would limit additional child tax credits to US citizens with a valid social security number. If you feel strongly about this issue –one way or another – now is a good time to let your Congressmen know.
…U. S. Rep. Dan Burton and dozens of other House Republicans have co-sponsored a bill that would essentially authorize additional child tax credits only for US citizens.
House Resolution 1956 would require tax filers to provide a valid social security number to receive an additional child tax credit…
==============================
Part One in a two-part series: http://www.wthr.com/story/
Part Two in a two-part series: http://www.wthr.com/story/
Excerpts from these Indianapolis Channel 13 articles:
The Internal Revenue Service says everyone who is employed in the United States – even those who are working here illegally – must report income and pay taxes. Of course, undocumented workers are not supposed to have a social security number. So for them to pay taxes, the IRS created what's called an ITIN, an individual taxpayer identification number. A 9-digit ITIN number issued by the IRS provides both resident and nonresident aliens with a unique identification number that allows them to file tax returns…
The loophole is called the Additional Child Tax Credit. It's a fully-refundable credit of up to $1000 per child, and it's meant to help working families who have children living at home.
But 13 Investigates has found many undocumented workers are claiming the tax credit for kids who live in Mexico – lots of kids in Mexico.
"We've seen sometimes 10 or 12 dependents, most times nieces and nephews, on these tax forms," the whistleblower told Eyewitness News. "The more you put on there, the more you get back."
The whistleblower has thousands of examples, and he brought some of them to 13 Investigates. While identifying information such as names and addresses on the tax returns was redacted, it was still clear that the tax filers had received large tax refunds after claiming additional child tax credits for many dependents.
"Here's a return right here: we've got a $10,3000 refund for nine nieces and nephews," he said, pointing to the words "niece" and "nephew" listed on the tax forms nine separate times.
"We're getting an $11,000 refund on this tax return. There's seven nieces and nephews," he said, pointing to another set of documents. "I can bring out stacks and stacks. It's just so easy it's ridiculous."
20 kids = $30,000
…One of the workers, who was interviewed at his home in southern Indiana, admitted his address was used this year to file tax returns by four other undocumented workers who don't even live there. Those four workers claimed 20 children live inside the one residence and, as a result, the IRS sent the illegal immigrants tax refunds totaling $29,608.
…George has repeatedly warned the IRS that additional child tax credits are being abused by undocumented workers. In 2009, his office released an audit report that showed ITIN tax filers received about $1 billion in additional child tax credits. Last year, the inspector general released a new report showing the problem now costs American tax payers more than $4.2 billion.
"Keep in mind, we're talking $4 billion per year," he said. "It's very troubling."
What George finds even more troubling is the IRS has not taken action despite multiple warnings from the inspector general…
· Claims for additional child tax credits by ITIN filers have skyrocketed during the past decade, from $161 million in 2001 to $4.2 billion in tax year 2010.
· Undocumented workers filed 3.02 million tax returns in 2010. 72% of those returns (2.18 million) claimed the additional child tax credit.
· In 2010, the IRS owed undocumented workers more in claimed additional child tax credits than it collected from those workers in taxes.
…The IRS tells WTHR it can do nothing to change the current system unless it gets permission from Congress. In other words, according to the IRS, closing the loophole would require lawmakers to pass a new law specifically excluding illegal immigrants from claiming additional child tax credits.
…The loophole allows undocumented workers to collect what's called an additional child tax credit. The credit – up to $1,000 per child – can be claimed even by families who pay nothing in taxes, in many cases resulting in a cash payment from the IRS. It is intended for working families with children who live in the same home.
…U. S. Rep. Dan Burton and dozens of other House Republicans have co-sponsored a bill that would essentially authorize additional child tax credits only for US citizens. House Resolution 1956 would require tax filers to provide a valid social security number to receive an additional child tax credit…
HR 1956 has sat idle in the House Ways and Means Committee for almost a year.
However, language from the bill is now included in a package of proposed budget savings measures that House lawmakers are expected to consider in May. While the budget package may have enough support to pass the House, it is expected to die a quick death in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
"This should not be a partisan issue because we're all concerned about saving taxpayer dollars and not wasting them on fraudulent things like this," said Rep. Burton. "But I don't think Democrats want to deal with this with right now."
…Republicans plan to keep pushing the issue forward.
"This rampant abuse of hardworking taxpayer dollars is just wrong," said Rep. Sam Johnson (R – Tex), who authored HR 1956. "It's time we close this tax loophole and put a stop to the child tax credit sham."
…Many undocumented workers see the issue very differently.
"It's not taking advantage. I'm very thankful to this country for the help it gives me," said an illegal immigrant in central Indiana, who decided to talk with 13 Investigates as long as we agreed not to reveal his identity.
The worker has lived in the United States for 14 years. He owns a home in Indiana, pays taxes and is raising three children who are all honor roll students. This year, he received a $9,000 tax refund that includes additional child tax credits – not only for his children who live in Indiana, but also for four nieces and nephews in Mexico.
…Taking additional child tax credits away from undocumented workers would also have an impact on millions of children legally living in this country. Children of illegal immigrants who are born in the US are legal US citizens and, in many cases, those children would no longer be eligible to receive the tax credits under proposals like HR 1956.
But the inspector general insists refundable tax credits were never intended for illegal immigrants – let alone people who've never stepped foot in the United States.
…"It's cheating the American taxpayer," agreed Burton. "We all believe in humanity and humanitarianism, but we've got a $15 trillion national debt. We can't subsidize the whole world."
What can you do?
Congress may be voting on a budget measure in the coming weeks, and a budget reconciliation package now being considered in the House of Representatives contains language that would limit additional child tax credits to US citizens with a valid social security number. If you feel strongly about this issue –one way or another – now is a good time to let your lawmakers know.
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