NHGOP DEMANDS SHAHEEN EXPLAIN LETTER CALLING FOR MORE IRS INVESTIGATIONS


For Immediate Release: May 15, 2013
Contact: Matt Slater, (603) 225-9341

NHGOP DEMANDS SHAHEEN EXPLAIN LETTER CALLING FOR MORE IRS INVESTIGATIONS

Concord – The New Hampshire Republican State Committee demanded that Senator Jeanne Shaheen explain her 2012 letter to the IRS commissioner calling for increased investigations of social welfare organizations (full letter here). The IRS is engulfed in a major scandal after reports surfaced that the agency was inappropriately targeting conservative social welfare organizations that opposed President Obama’s big government agenda.
“Senator Shaheen’s 2012 letter to the IRS commissioner raises concerns that must be addressed immediately. Shaheen and her Democrat colleagues have consistently attacked conservative organizations, but said nothing about the liberal ‘social welfare’ groups that have supported their campaigns. There are very serious questions about whether Shaheen’s partisan effort to pressure the IRS to increase investigations of 501(c)(4) organizations contributed to the outrageous practices that took place at the agency,” said NHGOP Executive Director Matthew Slater.
In a letter sent to former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman on February 16, 2012, Shaheen requested investigations of 501(c)(4) organizations. The letter was co-signed by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Al Franken (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jeff Merkely (D-OR) and Tom Udall (D-NM).
“We write to inquire if the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is investigating or intends to investigate whether groups designated as “social welfare” organizations, and thus receiving tax and other advantages under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(4), are improperly engaged in a substantial or even a predominant amount of campaign activity,” the letter read.
The Washington Examiner (5/13/13) reports that the letter was announced in a February 16 news release distributed by Senator Bennet’s office. The letter specifically singled out organizations lead by conservatives as examples of groups that the IRS should investigate.
“[L]ong-time partisan operative Karl Rove is a senior official behind a 501(c)(4) “social welfare” charity, yet it’s common knowledge that his organization exists to elect and defeat specific political candidates,” the news release read. “Elections operations such as Mr. Rove’s should not be allowed to masquerade as charities to take advantage of their tax exempt status and hide their donors from the public.”
In 2010 Shaheen’s colleague, Democrat Senator Max Baucus also urged the IRS to specifically investigate conservative organizations (Politico, 9/29/10).
Shaheen has been a consistent critic of conservative 501(c)(4) organizations, yet she has failed to criticize liberal ‘social welfare’ groups like MoveOn.org that have supported her campaigns. According to Opensecrets.org, Shaheen has accepted $81,524 in campaign donations from MoveOn.org’s political arm.
 
 
 
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Teens Robbed of I-pod/Cell Phone

 

MANCHESTER, NH- On Monday, February 11, 2013, at about 6:30 PM, Manchester Police responded to a Clay Street address for a report of a robbery.  On arrival, they met with two 16 year old Manchester teens who reported they had been the victims of a robbery a short time earlier on Somerville Street, near Belmont Street.

 

According to the boys, they were walking in the area when they were approached by two men, one of whom demanded their belongings, indicating his companion had a gun, although no gun was observed.

 

One of the boys surrendered his I-pod Nano and Galaxy S3 cell phone and the men left.  They were last seen leaving the area as passengers in an older, dark colored 4-door sedan operated by a third individual who was possibly wearing a red sweatshirt.

 

The first suspect was described as a white male in his forties, about 6’3” tall with a slender build and dark “stubble” on his face.  He was last seen wearing a dark colored vest and a green “beanie” style hat.  The second man, alleged to have possessed a gun, was described as a clean-shaven white male in his forties with an average height and build.  He was last seen wearing a camouflage shirt and khaki pants.

 

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Manchester Police Department at 668-8711.  Anonymous tips for cash rewards can be made through Manchester Crimeline at 624-4040 or online at manchestercrimeline.org.