Neugebauer: An IRS Apology Is Not Sufficient

Inappropriate" might be biggest understatement of the year. Cong. Randy Neugebauer Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Last week IRS officials admitted they had targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny in 2012.  As more information becomes public from an internal investigation it seems the IRS targeted a wide range of groups including those whose mission mentions government spending debt or making America a better place to live. An apology is not sufficient to address this issue.   Specifically the IRS flagged groups that had tea party" or patriot" in their application for tax-exempt status.  These groups were subjected to intense scrutiny which many said hindered their activities.  They were asked to fill out forms that requested information about their donors.  Additionally they had to submit information about group members political activities including details of their postings on social networking websites.  Lois Lerner who oversees tax-exempt groups at the IRS acknowledged this practice and apologized for it calling it inappropriate."  That might be the biggest understatement of the year.  Targeting American citizens based on their political beliefs is not merely inappropriateits unconstitutional.  The IRSs actions are a fundamental violation of our first amendment right to free speech and they will not be tolerated. I have a lot of questions about this case.

1. How many groups were targeted?
2. Is that number broader than the IRS first admitted?
3. Who knew about this practice in the IRS and why was it allowed?
4. How can we prevent this kind of government harassment in the future?

Im pleased that my colleagues on the Committee on Oversight and the Committee on Ways & Means have pledged to investigate this abuse of power.  Those investigations should provide us with some answers.  Bullying and harassing groups because of their political affiliations is completely contrary to our nations founding principles. An apology is not sufficient to address this issue Americans deserve to be sure it will never happen again. Repealing Obamacare On Thursday Ill be voting to repeal Obamacare for the 37th time.  As this law passed Congress in 2010 Nancy Pelosi was Speaker of the House and she infamously said that We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it." Well weve found out and its not good news.

1. 7 million Americans are at risk of losing their health insurance. 
2. The price tag comes to $1.3 trillion over the next 10 years.
3. We were told that premiums would be reduced by $2500 per family.  Instead theyve gone up by $3000 since 2008. 

When I talk to business owners in West Texas they tell me once the law is fully implemented they wont be able to provide the same level of benefits for their employees and they may have to reduce their workforce. Democratic Senator Max Baucus a driving force behind the law when it was passed recently called it a train wreck."  I have to agree.  So its my hope that when the House passes H.R. 45 and repeals Obamacare the Senate follows suit. Americans deserve better than this train wreck of a law. Improving the Endangered Species Act for West Texans Last week I was honored to be asked to serve on a Congressional working group dedicated to fixing the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA was created four decades ago in 1973 to preserve and protect wildlife with low populations.  Unfortunately the law hasnt been successful no matter how you look at it. Once listed species are rarely removed from endangered or threatened lists.  Decisions about listing species are driven by activist litigation instead of science which is costly and contrary to the intent of the law.  Landowners farmers ranchers and energy producers those who work on the land every day and have a vested interest in conservation have their livelihoods threatened by severe regulations that go along with listing decisions. The ESA Working Group is going to look at the ESA from every angle and determine what is working and what can be improved.  Its focused on solutions which is important to me because the producers in West Texas who will be affected by species listings dont need more talkthey need results.   This working group will also be a good way to coordinate our efforts to prevent the listing of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken which would be costly for West Texas. If you have suggestions about how to improve the ESA you can contact me and sign up for ESA Working Group updates. Farm Bill Action Item On Wednesday the House Agriculture Committee will be marking up and voting on the Farm Bill.  Last week I told you my priorities for this legislation. If you want to read the draft bill the Ag Committee has the full text and a summary online here. You can watch the votes live here. Congressman Randy Neugebauer represents the 29 Texas Panhandle & Big Country counties included in the 19th District of Texas. Currently in his 6th term Neugebauer serves as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance and is also a member of both the House Agriculture Committee and the Science & Technology Committee.