Look Who it Was Random video

Local Reaction to IRS Scandal

263 views · Published 17 May 2013 · 2:30 · Indexed 10 November 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2013 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

By Jerry Askin The IRS is getting grilled on Capitol Hill as Americans across the country question the agency's actions.  Friday, Congress held its first hearing on the IRS scandal.The agency's outgoing acting commissioner Steven Miller got grilled by both Democrats and Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee.  Miller has already been forced to resign.  Miller said he was not involved when IRS agents targeted Tea Party and other conservative groups seeking tax exempt status, but he did try to explain to the committee how this scandal might have happened.Republicans allege a cover up by the Obama administration, but Democrats point out that many of the leaders at the agency when the scandal started were appointees of former President George W. Bush.Those hearings may be happening in DC, but everyone has to deal with the IRS at some point, sparking strong opinions about the government agencies.Anywhere you go, you'll likely find taxpayers speaking out in someway about the IRS --- especially now.  Edward Clark of Ringgold doesn't support the discrimination of any group that qualifies for tax exempt status.I don't feel like they should be targeting anybody.  If anybody, I feel like the IRS should be targeted, says taxpayer Edward Clark.He's like many taxpayers we found with lots of questions for IRS officials.Taxpayer Rebecca Brock asks, Who gave the original instructions to look closer at certain groups, and was it politically motivated?  Was it just conservative groups?     Even Catoosa County Tax Commissioner Sandra Self has questions for the federal agency.I would ask them to get the real truth to what occured, whether there was an abuse. I would also charge them to remember that they're looking out for people, just like me, says Sandra Self.Though Self oversees property tax collections in the county, her role is similar to an IRS official.People expect the same thing from any tax official. They want fair and equitable treatment under the law, says Sandra Self.Self tells NewsChannel 9 that everyone deserving and qualified for tax exemptions should get them.  If there was something illegal, yes investigate, but if it was just different, then that's an outrage - it should be dealt with, says taxpayer Sandra Self.We found many people who support the role of the IRS, but say there ought to be some major changes to how it operates.We do need to fund the government and find some easier ways around that, like the flat tax and something like that -- and it may be time for that, says taxpayer Terry Smith.Collecting taxes doesn't give you a license to investigate every aspect of anyone life, says taxpayer Terry Issac.Former IRS commissioner Doug Shulman will testify before the House Oversight Committee next Wednesday.Depend on us to keep you posted as we learn more about this story.

More from this channel