http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/05/17/attention-to-irs-law-gaining-steam-in-congress-ht-lawrence-odonnell/ Despite his condemnation of the IRS’ actions regarding the targeting of conservative groups applying for 501(c)4 status, Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett did not believe that the current tax system was “rotten to the core” as some Republicans suggest. Echoing the argument MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell has been making about the IRS law, Congressman from Texas went after the statute itself–specifically, the IRS’ interpretation of the words “exclusively” and “primarily.” IRC tax statue 501(c) 4, as originally written by Congress, is explicit. it defines tax-exempt soocial welfare groups like this: in 1959, the IRS issued operating guidance (its interpretation of tax laws) to IRS auditors, re-defining a hard, clear word like ‘exclusively’ to mean ’primarily’, and then left it to the IRS agents to determine if an organization was primarily concerned with the promotion of social welfare.” It was that change from “exclusively” to “primarily,” that “allowed political organizations to buy political advertising in support of candidates or as an attack on candidates and do so under a tax-exempt provision in the law that was never intended for them to hide behind.” Over the course of his questioning, Doggett accused GOP lawmakers of using this scandal and the 501(c)4 tax exemption status as a way to pour more “secret money” into campaigns in an effort to stall Obamacare, which will be enforced by the IRS when it is fully implemented.
