IRS head grilled by Congress

Outgoing IRS Commissioner Steven Miller apologized Friday on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service for unfairly targeting conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status, but said "partisanship" was not the reason for the agency's practices.

?First and foremost, as acting commissioner, I want to apologize on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service,? Miller said before a House Ways and Means Committee hearing.

The IRS is under fire for placing heavier scrutiny on organizations with words like "tea party" or "patriots" in their name when they applied for nonprofit status between 2010 and 2012, according to a report unveiled this week by the Treasury Department's inspector general for tax administration.

Miller, who at the time was deputy commissioner for services and enforcement, went on to say in his brief opening statement that "foolish mistakes were made" in the handling of the applications.

?I do not believe that partisanship motivated the people that engaged in the practices described in the inspector general?s report,? Miller said. ?Foolish mistakes were made by people who were trying to be more efficient in their work.?

Sitting next to Miller at the hearing, Treasury Inspector General J. Russell George testified that in his investigation he "did not" find evidence that the agency's decisions were motivated by politics.

Lawmakers from both parties grilled Miller, questioning him about when he learned of the agency's practices, probing into why the agency singled out organizations with conservative leanings for heavier scrutiny, and asking whether the IRS disclosed private tax information to other government agencies.

Miller repeatedly denied that the IRS intentionally used political criteria to determine levels of scrutiny on groups applying for tax-exempt status.

"Generally, we provided horrible customer service here. I will admit that, we did," Miller said when questioned by Rep. Pat Tiberi, an Ohio Republican. "Horrible customer service. Whether it is politically motivated or not is a very different question."

When asked to point to specific employees within the IRS who were responsible, Miller declined. ?I don?t have names for you,? he told Texas Republican Rep. Kevin Brady.

Also at Friday's hearing, California Republican Rep. Devin Nunes questioned Miller about why he resigned from his position as a result of the IRS' practices. Earlier this week, President Barack Obama announced that Miller would step down.

"I never said I didn't do anything wrong, Mr. Nunes," Miller said. "I resigned because, as the acting commissioner, what happens in the IRS, whether I was personally involved or not, stops at my desk. So I should be held accountable for what happens. Whether I was personally involved or not are very different questions, sir."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/irs-commissioner-says-partisanship-not-involved-agency-behavior-134141319.html

atari breakout Andrew Wiggins Amys Baking Company ncis how i met your mother tesla linkedin