An upcoming report reveals that the Internal Revenue Service gave extra scrutiny to a variety of groups focused on cutting government spending in addition to the targeting of Tea Party groups that they had previously admitted to.
The IRS issued an apology to Tea Party groups on Friday for the extra scrutiny they were given as they attempted to obtain tax-exempt status. According to CNN, an upcoming report from an inspector general states the IRS also targeted to applicants who stated that "criticize how the country is run" or that wanted to "make America a better place to live," the sort of statements that conservative political groups would use while applying for 501(c)(4) tax status.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, called for the White House to issue a public condemnation of the IRS, according to CNN.
"It contributes to the profound distrust that the American people have in government," Collins said of the scandal. "The president needs to make crystal clear that this is unacceptable in America."
A Congressional investigation into what actions the IRS took is sure to take place. The head of the House Committee on Oversight, Rep. Daniel Issa, R-CA., plans to investigate how this was allowed to happen.
"That fact is if you're doing something and it's wrong, it's illegal, it's the kind of thing that scares the American people to their core, when Americans are being targeted for audits based on their political beliefs, that needs to change," Issa said.
Commissioner Douglas Shulman maintains the IRS made mistakes but that they were not done in order to further any political cause.
"I can give you assurances," Shulman said. "We pride ourselves in being a nonpolitical, nonpartisan organization. There is absolutely no targeting. This is the kind of back and forth that happens when people apply for 501(c)(4) status."
Lois Lerner, the IRS director overseeing tax-exempt groups, said on Friday that none of the groups that were given extra scrutiny by the IRS were denied tax-exempt status, according to Reuters. Now that the scandal appears to have affected more groups it is not known whether or not that statement is still accurate.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mi., spoke on "Fox News Sunday" and explained that this is the sort of scandal that all of America should be concerned by, not just the groups that were targeted.
"I don't care if you're a conservative, a liberal, a Democrat or a Republican, this should send a chill up your spine," Rogers said.
