[EL] ELB News and Commentary 5/19/13

Sun May 19 12:21:25 PDT 2013

    "A Den of Liberals: The IRS, like most government agencies, leans
    left. It's just a fact of life" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50649>

Posted on May 19, 2013 12:19 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50649> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Weigel 
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2013/05/steven_miller_house_testimony_the_irs_has_many_more_liberals_than_conservatives.html>:

    In theory, the civil-servant structure should make an organization
    less prone to an eruption of bias or of hive-mind behavior. But
    that's not how it works. Liberals are more likely to enter the civil
    service, and to stick to it, than conservatives are. And why not?
    Conservatives want to shrink the size of government; Republicans
    have negotiated deals federally, and in the states, that slashed or
    froze the size of the bureaucracies. Ron Swanson aside
    <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Swanson>, the public sector is no
    place for a libertarian.

    Every single number proves this. Tim Carney has collected
    <http://washingtonexaminer.com/tim-carney-the-irs-is-deeply-political-and-very-democratic/article/2529758>
    the campaign finance figures for IRS employees nationally and in the
    Cincinnati office. In the past three election cycles, IRS workers
    donated $247,000 to Democrats and $145,000 to Republicans. In Ohio,
    the number was skewed even further---75 percent to Democrats.
    According to a 2011 Gallup poll, around 40 percent
    <http://www.gallup.com/poll/146786/democrats-lead-ranks-union-state-workers.aspx>
    of unionized federal employees identified as Democrats; only 27
    percent identified as Republicans. State and local government
    employees are far more likely to be Democrats than Republicans.

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    "IRS Scandal, Day 10? <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50647>

Posted on May 19, 2013 12:17 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50647> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

TaxProf has an extensive collection of links.  Here is the most recent 
set <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/the-irs-.html> of 
coverage (andthis SNL skit 
<http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/snl-on-.html>).  
Earlier coverage:

  * IRS Admits to Targeting Conservative Groups in 2012 Election
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/irs-admits.html>
    (May 10, 2013)
  * WaPo and WSJ Agree: IRS Targeting of Conservatives Is Appalling
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/wsj-irs.html> (May
    11, 2013)
  * Schmalbeck on the IRS 'Targeting' of Conservative Groups
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/schmalbeck.html>
    (May 12, 2013)
  * The Deepening IRS Scandal
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/the-deepening.html>
    (May 13, 2013)
  * The IRS Scandal, Day 5
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/the-irs-scandal.html>
    (May 14, 2013)
  * Jon Stewart and Vic Fleischer on the IRS Scandal
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/jon-stewart.html>
    (May 14, 2013)
  * Inspector General: Ineffective IRS Management Allowed Agents to
    Target Conservative Groups
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/inspector-general-.html>
    (May 14, 2013)
  * The IRS Scandal, Day 6
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/the-irs.html> (May
    15, 2013)
  * Ellen Aprill, The TIGTA Report on the IRS Scandal: Questions About
    the IRS and About the Report
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/aprill.html> (May
    15, 2013)
  * Phillip Hackney, The TIGTA Report on the IRS Scandal: Be on the
    Lookout for False Partisan Witchunts
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/hackney-.html> (May
    15, 2013)
  * The IRS Scandal, Day 7
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/the-.html> (May 16,
    2013)
  * The IRS Scandal, Day 8
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/irs-sc.html> (May
    17, 2013)
  * The IRS Scandal, Day 9
    <http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2013/05/the-irs-1.html>
    (May 18, 2013)

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    "Higher-Ups Knew of IRS Case" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50644>

Posted on May 19, 2013 12:06 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50644> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WSJ reports. 
<http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324767004578488833834357540.html>

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    "How the IRS Spun Out of Control" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50642>

Posted on May 19, 2013 12:05 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50642> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

LA Times deep dive 
<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-irs-conservatives-20130519,0,2809001,print.story>.

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    "Confusion and Staff Troubles Rife at I.R.S. Office in Ohio"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50638>

Posted on May 19, 2013 12:03 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50638> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Extensive 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/us/politics/at-irs-unprepared-office-seemed-unclear-about-the-rules.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0> 
front-page NYT report.

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    "IRS Scandal is About Donors, Not Tax"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50635>

Posted on May 19, 2013 12:01 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50635> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Roger Colinvaux has written this CNN oped 
<http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/17/opinion/colinvaux-irs-taxes/index.html>.

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    "Shareholders press companies to disclose more about political
    spending" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50632>

Posted on May 19, 2013 11:58 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50632> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo reports. 
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/shareholders-press-companies-to-disclose-more-about-political-spending/2013/05/17/ed1392e4-bf34-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html>

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    "Dan Morain: Donors' millions kept undercover"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50630>

Posted on May 19, 2013 11:57 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50630> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

New SacBee column. 
<http://www.sacbee.com/2013/05/19/5429846/donors-millions-kept-undercover.html>

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    CCP Comments to House Ways & Means on IRS Scandal
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50627>

Posted on May 17, 2013 5:16 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50627> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Here 
<http://www.campaignfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/2013-05-17_Keating-WM-Testimony_US-House_IRS-Targeting-Conservative-Groups.pdf>.

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    Disclosure of 501c4 Files to Pro Publica Was "Inadvertent"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50624>

Posted on May 17, 2013 5:11 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50624> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

See the Update at the bottom ofthis Pro Publica story 
<http://www.propublica.org/article/irs-office-that-targeted-tea-party-also-disclosed-confidential-docs>.

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    "IRS Scandal Rooted in Money, Power and Washington"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50622>

Posted on May 17, 2013 5:09 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50622> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Bloomberg View 
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-15/irs-scandal-rooted-in-money-power-and-washington.html>:

    Until Congress passes the Disclose Act, which would end the practice
    of anonymous political spending, the IRS will continue to oversee
    groups that spend millions to influence the political process.
    What's more, well-financed, powerful groups with deep political
    connections and access to first-rate legal advice will continue to
    whiz through the IRS express lane while genuine citizen
    organizations, Tea-Party-inspired and otherwise, will endure long
    waits to have their applications approved. The inspector general
    found one hapless applicant waiting 1,138 days for approval. We
    don't know the victim's name. We're pretty sure it wasn't "Rove."

I make the pitch for DISCLOSE II to solve the broader IRS problem here. 
<http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/05/the_irs_tea_party_scandal_the_lesson_is_better_campaign_finance_disclosure.html>

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    "How the IRS's Nonprofit Division Got So Dysfunctional"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50619>

Posted on May 17, 2013 2:28 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50619> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Must-read 
<http://www.propublica.org/article/how-irs-nonprofit-division-got-so-dysfunctional> 
Pro Publica deep dive.

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    "How to Stop the Next IRS Scandal"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50616>

Posted on May 17, 2013 1:43 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50616> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Jonathan Bernstein 
<http://prospect.org/article/how-prevent-another-irs-scandal> wants 
unlimited disclosed contributions to candidates.

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    Read About How Lerner Planted Question with Lawyer at ABA Tax
    Meeting <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50612>

Posted on May 17, 2013 1:26 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50612> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Here 
<http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/irs-official-lois-lerner-called-lawyer-to-plant>.

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    "Official Says Treasury Dept. Knew of I.R.S. Inquiry in 2012?
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50609>

Posted on May 17, 2013 12:10 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50609> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

NYT 
<http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/us/politics/irs-scandal-congressional-hearings.html?hp&_r=0>on 
today's hearing.

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    "House panel opens hearing on IRS targeting of conservative groups"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50605>

Posted on May 17, 2013 12:07 pm <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50605> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo reports 
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-panel-opens-hearing-on-irs-targeting-of-conservative-groups/2013/05/17/f1d7d352-beea-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html?hpid=z2>.

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    "IRS Speaks Out: We Messed Up, But We Would've Scrutinized Tea
    Partiers Anyway" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50602>

Posted on May 17, 2013 11:41 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50602> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Andy Kroll reports 
<http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/05/irs-response-tea-party-debacle-congress> 
for Mother Jones.

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    Two from Bloomberg on IRS <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50599>

Posted on May 17, 2013 11:25 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50599> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

IRS Probe Sheds Light on Nonprofit Election-Year Surge 
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-17/irs-probe-sheds-light-on-nonprofit-election-year-surge.html?alcmpid=Politics>

Exiting IRS Chief Denies Targeting as Republicans Pounce 
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-05-17/camp-says-irs-shows-administration-s-culture-of-cover-ups.html?alcmpid=Politics>

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    "New IRS List Harms Tax-Exempt Groups"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50596>

Posted on May 17, 2013 11:23 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50596> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

CCP release. 
<http://www.campaignfreedom.org/2013/05/17/ccp-urges-irs-to-act-more-carefully/>

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    "Election Finance Reform: Viable Proposals vs. Long-Term Goals"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50593>

Posted on May 17, 2013 11:21 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50593> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Raph Graybill blogs 
<http://isps.yale.edu/news/blog/2013/05/election-finance-reform-viable-proposals-vs-long-term-goals#.UZZ09IL3hBF>.

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    "IRS Rationale for Tea Party Scandal Is Debunked by Data"
    <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50590>

Posted on May 17, 2013 11:17 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50590> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

Important item 
<http://philanthropy.com/article/IRS-Rationale-for-Tea-Party/139277/> in 
the Chronicle of Philanthropy (via Jonathan Adler) 
<http://www.volokh.com/2013/05/17/irs-disclosure-was-planted/>.

Whether or not the total number of c4 applications were going up, c4 
political spending was exploding, beginning with WRTL and continuing 
into Citizens United.  See my charts here <http://t.co/rUnyRpng6a>from 
last year's presentation at Stanford PACs, based upon data from the 
Center for Responsive Politics.

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    "At Cincinnati IRS office, surprise over claims of partisan
    villainy" <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50588>

Posted on May 17, 2013 11:15 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=50588> by 
Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

WaPo went to talk 
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/at-cincinnati-irs-office-surprise-over-claims-of-partisan-villainy/2013/05/17/f693c60e-bd81-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html?hpid=z1> 
to the Cincinnati office workers.

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-- 
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
949.824.0495 - fax
rhasen at law.uci.edu
http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
http://electionlawblog.org

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