IRS Admits Targeting Us

You have undoubtedly heard the recent news of the IRS confirming it had targeted tea parties, patriot groups and conservative groups seeking non-profit status.  This comes after previously denying the obvious.  It did so by withholding decisions on tax exempt status requests, and demanding intrusive and highly detailed information about groups’ politics, contributors, postings on social networks, and even family members.   See HERE for actual examples of the outrageous information sought by the IRS.  The IRS then passed the confidential application responses of conservative groups on to a liberal George Soros-funded journalism organization which would write stories attempting to undermine these groups during the 2012 election cycle.  Read more HERE. 

The Manassas Tea Party (MTP) was one of those at the center of the attack by the Internal Revenue Service.  Our organization submitted tax-exempt paperwork in 2010, but the IRS failed to respond until the 2012 election cycle, and did so with the extensive list of probing questions. They attempted to intimidate us by stating that anything less than a full disclose would be subject to perjury.  Additionally, they indicated that our private responses would be made available for public inspection.  Were these unwarranted delays and overly burdensome information requests an attempt to divert the energy and resources of those groups and their missions in a Presidential election year?  That was certainly the impact on our organization as there was a paralysis in activity, many fearful members, and donations were significantly reduced.  Though legal representation by the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) the MTP, as one of 27 Tea Parties from 18 states represented, was successful in defending our rights and we did ultimately receive our tax-exempt status in January, 2013, well after the 2012 election. 

This certainly is an outrageous example of a shameful abuse of government power and we applaud efforts to investigate the full extent of the abuse and punish the guilty.  What the IRS did was to deny Tea Party groups from participating in the political process by harassing them because of what they believed.  That's not American, and not fair. A government abusing its power should be seen as everyone’s problem – right or left.

Welcome To Our New City-Thanks To These Guys

 The Manassas City Council met several days after hearing from a packed public hearing on Monday, April 22 concerning the proposed tax increases and the FY14 budget.  At the hearing an overwhelming number of citizens indicated "now is not the time for a tax increase."  The hearing was the culmination of a large number of citizens emailing, calling, speaking at previous Citizens' Time, and presenting a petition signed by nearly 250 citizens against the tax increase in the weeks prior.

Despite the Mayor indicating they wanted to hear from citizens, we questioned whether the Council, our public servants, would listen to those who elected them.  We got our answer.  The Defiant Gang of 4 pictured: Mark Wolfe, Jon Way, Andy Harrover, and Steve Randolph voted for a 7.1% tax increase.  So let's erect new welcome signage at the portals of our city that tells it like it really is.  Welcome to your new city. 

Local media covered the April 22 public hearing and reported about it HERE.   A later article  on the largest tax increase in years including comments from the Manassas Tea Party is HERE.