Tea Party Patriots To Rally At IRS Offices
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Protesters were expected Tuesday to descend upon Internal Revenue Service offices throughout Southern California and nationwide in the wake of reports that the tax collection agency targeted conservative groups.
Members of the national Tea Party Patriots have voiced public outrage after revelations earlier this month that the IRS implemented a policy that placed conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status under higher scrutiny than other groups.
While it remains unclear whether the practice was illegal or just inappropriate, a new survey conducted by the Washington Post found 56 percent of respondents believed the targeting of conservative groups was a deliberate act.
Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO the planned demonstrations aren't specifically targeted at President Obama.
Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin
"This is really a protest against the way the IRS was used as a political weapon, and about how the government is so big that there's no accountability," Martin said.
Martin also said Americans need to be reminded that the scandal isn't simply for Washington insiders.
"While this seemed like it was a Washington, D.C., national story, it really is affecting people around this country," she said, claiming that some letters involved in the scandal were sent from the IRS office in Laguna Niguel.
Demonstrations are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at hundreds of IRS offices around the country, including downtown L.A., San Diego, and Laguna Niguel.
