Dear Senator Baucus:
As the Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, I am deeply troubled by the recent revelations from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) indicating that the agency had specifically targeted certain politically conservative groups for extra scrutiny as part of their review of applications for tax-exempt 501(c)(4) status. It is apparent that these groups were asked inappropriate questions about the identity of their donors. Other Republican members of the committee have expressed similar concerns. I respectfully request that you immediately schedule a hearing on this issue so that the members of the committee and the American public can learn the details surrounding this reported behavior.
I was encouraged to hear your comments this morning in favor of a full investigation into this matter by the Finance Committee. I strongly support such an effort and it is essential that we proceed in a bipartisan manner. Bipartisanship on this issue is critical since both Democrats and Republicans have expressed considerable interest in these matters over the past couple of years. As the sole committee of jurisdiction over the IRS, it is critical that Finance Committee play a leadership role in examining this issue. We have an important role to play in helping restore the confidence of the American people in this important agency due to this blatant political and partisan behavior. I look forward to working with you on this critical matter.
Sincerely,
Orrin G. Hatch Ranking Member
