During the Ways and Means hearing over the IRS abuses it was revealed that one conservative group was asked by the IRS to, “…please detail the content of the members of your organization’s prayers.”  Click for story.

Watch the video here:

Two Congressmen, Republicans Mike Kelly (PA-03) and Jim Renacci (OH-16), put out a letter last Thursday requesting Treasury Secretary, Jack Lew about whether political factors played a role in dealership closings between 2008 and 2009.

The congressmen requested, “…all emails, phone records, notes, memoranda, reports and other communications regarding the decision making process for dealership closures from the Automotive Task Force.”

Click for story.

Representative Kelly also made news with some tough questions to acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller about the recent IRS scandal.  Here are a few excerpts:

“This is a huge blow to the faith and trust that the American people have in their government.  Is there any limit to the scope of where you folks (the IRS) can go? Is there anything at all? Is there any way that we could ask you, “Is there anything you shouldn’t ask?”  My goodness, how much money do you have in your wallet? Who do you get emails from? Whose sign do you put up in your front yard?  This is a tax question?  And you don’t think that’s intimidating?  It’s sure as hell intimidating.  And I don’t know that I got any answers from you today.  And I don’t know that, what Mr. George has done is great work, but you know what? There is a heck of a lot more that has to come out in this.

If anybody were to sit here today and listen to what you have to say, I am more concerned today than I was before and the fact that you all can do just about anything you want to anybody. You know you can put anybody out of business that you want anytime you want. And I’ve got to tell you, you talked about, you’re a horribly run organization, if you’re on the other side of the fence, you’re not given that excuse.  And when the IRS comes in, you’re not allowed to be shoddy, you’re not allowed to be run horribly, you’re not allowed to make mistakes, you’re not allowed to do one damn thing that doesn’t come in compliance, if you do, you’re held responsible, right then. I just think the American people have seen what’s going on right now in their government. This is absolutely an overreach and this is an outrage for all America.”

Watch the video here:

If you were to write a novel about a corrupt administration targeting its political foes, it couldn’t get more astonishing than what we see unfurling before our very eyes with the IRS intimidation of tea party groups.  On May 17th, the OLC published an article discussing this issue and its worrisome ties to Obamacare given that the IRS has been designated the primary enforcement arm of the dreaded law.  The article pointed out the obvious, if you really want to harass Americans, attacking them over one of their most basic needs, health care, is a pretty powerful weapon.

Imagine, then, our disbelief when we learned from ABC News that Sarah Hall Ingram, the IRS commissioner in charge of tax exempt organizations at the time of the the tea party targeting, is now the director of the IRS’ Affordable Care Act Office.  Is it just a silly coincidence, or was it a deliberate move to take the intimidation of private citizens to a higher level?

The irony was not lost on Senator John Cornyn who introduced the “Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013,” in response to the news.  The proposed legislation keeps the Treasury Secretary, or any delegate, from enforcing the ACA.  Senator Cornyn explained, “Now more than ever, we need to prevent the IRS from having any role in Americans’ health care.”

But, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell summed it up best when he simply stated, “Stunning, just stunning,” for the IRS’ actions speak louder than words.

Ohio Republicans opposed to Obamacare are in a unique position to watch a strange confluence of events.  On the one hand, we have the Republicans in Congress doing everything they can to slow the implementation of the ACA – voting to defund Obamacare in the US House budget, turning down requests for more dollars for implementation, voting for total repeal of the law, and now refusing to appoint members to the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), the sterile and official sounding name for death panel.  (And “independent” it is, for the board’s decisions are final and its members are answerable to no one.)

But, as freedom loving Ohioans cheer on their feisty brethren in Washington, they find themselves fighting turncoats at home in the form of Governor Kasich and the Republican state legislature who choose to push full speed ahead in their efforts to expand Medicaid, one of the key components of the ACA.  While doing so, Ohio GOP leaders willfully ignore the voice of the Ohio people who voted overwhelmingly for health care freedom in 2011 with 66% of the statewide vote.  And, the Ohio GOP ignores the strong stand and fiscal sanity of the US House Republicans who voted to defund Obamacare and balance the federal budget in 10 years.  The single largest savings in the US House budget is cutting Medicaid expansion nationwide, $815 billion dollars wide.

The obstinacy of Statehouse Republicans on the expansion issue is bewildering as all signs point to Obamacare unraveling despite the best efforts of the Obama administration.  In fact, Henry Chao, the official in charge of the implementation of the ACA’s health care exchanges, has publicly expressed his concern with meeting the exchanges’ October 1st deadline admitting, “I’m pretty nervous,” and exclaiming, “Let’s just make sure its not a third-world experience.”  Will someone please pass this information on to the Medicaid “reform” work groups in the Ohio House and Senate?  These stubborn folks are contemplating placing Ohio’s Medicaid expansion population on the very same exchanges that so worry Mr. Chao.

Ohio Liberty Coalition salutes the work of the Congressional Republicans as we cheer on the inevitable failure of Obamacare.  At the same time, we reject the leadership of Governor Kasich and Statehouse Republicans who have told many a grassroots activist to accept that Obamacare is the law of the land.  In America, tyranny is never law, and that’s just what Obamacare is to so many of us.

Related reading:

CNBC Transcript:  Rep. Paul Ryan Speaks With Larry Kudlow of CNBC

Budget Request Denied:  Sebelius Turns to Health Executives to Finance Obamacare 

House to Vote Again on Repealing Obamacare Next Week

Republicans Are Refusing to Appoint Members to Obamacare’s Most Notorious Panel

IAPB:  The Part of Obamacare That Can’t Be Repealed

Kasich’s Curious Proposal Amid Obamacare’s Many Failures

Obamacare Official:  ”Let’s Just Make Sure It’s Not a Third-World Experience”

Kasich Remains Optimistic About Medicaid Expansion Deal

Ohio to Expand Medicaid, Despite Gov. Kasich’s Opposition to Obamacare

CPAC 2013 – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

For tea party and 912 groups in Ohio, the story of the IRS illegally targeting patriot organizations is finally seeing the light of day.  Now we are learning that the harassment was much more widespread with the IRS going after Jewish groups, pro-life groups, True the Vote and the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law as well.  The targeting appears to have at least two objectives, limiting political advocacy through intimidation and conducting opposition research on political opponents.

However belated, it is a welcomed change to see the media reporting on the IRS intimidation of Americans who were red flagged merely for promoting the ideals and values on which this country was founded.  The story exhibits far too clearly how corrupt government can be, especially with a mainstream media willing to look the other way.  This should give us all pause, and even more so since there is another storyline here, and it has to do with Obamacare.

The IRS has been designated the primary enforcement agency for the ACA.  Charged with the duty to determine compliance with the individual mandate, the IRS will require an additional tax form from every taxpayer requesting personal insurance information, including health insurance id number.  The IRS will also determine eligibility for subsidies and tax credits available to individuals and businesses seeking coverage on the ACA’s health care exchanges.  And, the IRS will collect the medical device tax.

As such, Americans find themselves in a troublesome position where they are forced to disclose personal information about one of their most vital needs, healthcare, to an agency caught red-handed targeting citizens for their political and religious beliefs.

Big government breeds inefficiency, economic stagnation, loss of freedom and corruption.  Americans have experienced all of these increasingly over the years.  The side effects of a massive government bureaucracy, though, are about to be ramped up 110% under Obamacare, and the chance for further targeting of Americans is very real.  This time though, the targeting won’t be over an IRS determination letter.  It will be over the ability of Americans to care for themselves and their loved ones.

Related reading:

IRS Knew Tea Party Targeted in 2011

IRS Inquisition Update

IRS to pro-life group:  Send letter pledging not to protest Planned Parenthood to get your tax exemption

True the Vote Founder:  DOJ scrutinized us after IRS filing

When It Comes to Health-Care Reform, the IRS Rules

New Obamacare Tax Form Mandates Americans Report Personal Health ID Info to IRS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2013

MEDIA CONTACT
Maurice A . Thompson

IRS harassment was not limited to “tea party” organizations, and began earlier than many believe

Columbus, OH – The 1851 Center for Constitutional Law today emphasized that Internal Revenue Service harassment of groups advocating for limited government extends as far back as early 2010, and includes organizations exclusively dedicated to protecting constitutional rights, including the 1851 Center.

In its May 20, 2010 response to the 1851 Center’s application for tax-exempt status, the IRS demands that, in order to receive approval of its application, the 1851 Center must:
“Please explain in detail your organization’s involvement with the Tea Party.”

The 1851 Center explained that it provides legal representation to Ohioans whose constitutional rights have been aggrieved, including tea party organizations and members, and ultimately received tax exempt status. However, this instance is significant because it reveals infractions beyond what even the Inspector General for Tax Administration’s May 14 Report reveals:

• While the Report focuses on 501(c)(4) political and/or lobbying organizations, the 1851 Center applied for status as an educational and/or civil public charity under Section 501(c)(3) (the 1851 Center is a public interest law firm that litigates civil rights cases without engaging in politics).
• While the Report indicates that “[t]he Determinations Unit developed and used inappropriate criteria to identify applications from organizations with the words Tea Party in their names,” the 1851 Center made no reference to “tea party,” nor “patriot” or “9-12,” in is application, much less in its name.
• IRS harassment of liberty-oriented groups, and intent to root out “tea party” activities, even through non-tea party sources such as 1851, has been in full force for a minimum of three years..

In its IRS filings, the 1851 Center indicated that its mission was “to defend constitutional rights and human rights through legal action.” The Center supplied no information that would have indicated any particular relationship with any particular tea-party organization.

“As with demands made of other organizations, the IRS demand to the 1851 Center was at minimum, irrelevant, and appears to have been calculated to do political opposition research on organizations opposing the President’s policies through, ironically, doing nothing more than enforcing the United States and Ohio constitutions.” said Maurice Thompson, Executive Director of the 1851 Center. “Investigators must acknowledge that the breadth of this scandal extends to not just ‘tea party’ groups, but to conservative and libertarian think tanks and public interest law firms across the nation.”

The 1851 Center has been a steadfast opponent of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act since March of 2010, having initiated the Ohio Health Care Freedom Amendment, service as amicus counsel on the lawsuits opposing the individual mandate, and counseling against a state-based Obamacare exchange and more recently against Medicaid expansion.

Read the IRS Demand Letter to the 1851 Center HERE.

(Cincinnati, Ohio) – May 16, 2013 – Yesterday the Hamilton County Board of Elections voted to send two more people to the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office on voter fraud allegations.

Ms. Christine Macklin of Bond Hill is accused of illegally voting from 2008 through 2012 for Mr. Eugene Rienzo, a severely disabled man for whom she was guardian.   Ms. Macklin allegedly voted Mr. Rienzo’s absentee ballot after being disallowed to vote for him at the Board of Elections on October 2, 2012, the first day of early voting.  Ms. Macklin was subpoenaed to appear before the Board on Wednesday May 15th but did not show, invoking her 5th amendment rights.

Ms. Damica Engram, a Kentucky resident, who cast a regular ballot in Hamilton County on November 6, 2012, is accused of voting in the wrong state.   On Election Day, Ms. Engram, formerly of Bond Hill, told poll workers that she was a Kentucky resident and presented her Kentucky driver’s license as identification but demanded to vote a regular ballot in Ohio.  Ms. Engram, was also subpoenaed to appear yesterday in front of the Board but did not show.

Mary Siegel of Ohio Voter Integrity Project (Ohio VIP), a non-partisan group dedicated to ensure lawful elections in Ohio said, “There is no doubt that both of these cases represent intentional voter fraud.  What we need in Ohio is election reform, particularly in the areas of voter registration, absentee voting and poll worker qualifications as well as stricter penalties for election fraud.”

Both of these cases are now under investigation by the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office.  On June 3rd 2013, the Hamilton County Board of Elections will review additional cases of voter fraud and anomalies brought forward by Ohio VIP.

Ohio Voter Integrity Project is a non-partisan grassroots effort to educate and involve citizens in various aspects of the electoral process to ensure unbiased and lawful elections for all residents of Ohio regardless of race or party affiliation. For more information, contact info [at] ohiovip [dot] org.

We wrote Tuesday about Senator Rand Paul’s resolution condemning the IRS for attacking tea party groups. In a not so shocking partisan move, Senate Democrats have blocked Sen. Paul’s resolution. Apparently Senate Democrats do not feel that the IRS’ actions are concerning enough for the resolution.

Paul is quoted as saying “This resolution is not about Republican vs. Democrat or conservative vs. liberal. It is about arrogant and unrestrained government vs. the rule of law. The First Amendment cannot and should not be renegotiated depending on which party holds power,” Sen. Paul said. “Each senator took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, yet Senate Democrats chose to block my resolution and thus refused to condemn the IRS for trampling on our First Amendment rights. I am incredibly disappointed in Washington’s party politics and I am determined to hold the IRS accountable for these unjust acts.”

IRS Unbalanced

A message from Ann Becker, President, Cincinnati Tea Party:

The IRS has targeted Tea Party groups all over the country. Cincinnati is the epicenter of this violation of freedom. This is something that cannot stand. Jefferson said, “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” We will fear our government, no longer.

Join us to “Rein in the IRS”. We will rally together. Bring your signs, your flags and you devotion to the Constitution.

When: Tuesday, May 21st – at Noon
Where: Fountain Square, Downtown Cincinnati
At noon, we will march from Fountain Square to the Federal Building.
Register Here!
Spread the Word through Facebook Click here for Event

Spread the word about this rally on Facebook/Twitter and through your email connections. Twitter hash tag: #reigninirs

We want to know what you think of the current state of our country. Fill out this survey to give us information on your opinions.

We Want to Know what you Think
Click Here to take our Survey

The United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers has called for Obamacare’s repeal in a very straightforward statement outlining the ACA’s many defects. While they are coming rather late to the party, the roofers are welcome nonetheless, and it is hoped, that more of the democrat base will follow as they witness their own enterprises adversely affected by Obamacare’s many ill conceived policies.

Obamacare is a damaging piece of legislation and Ohioans should do everything in their power to keep the law from establishing roots in our state. We ask that our Governor and State Legislature see the writing on the wall and protect their constituents as much as possible from the damage to our health care system, insurance market and economy that the ACA is sure to bring. (Hint: Don’t expand Medicaid in Ohio.)

Please read the Roofer’s full statement here. It is an excellent account of what businesses around the country are experiencing.