The American Center for Law and Justice on Tuesday declared victory over the Internal Revenue Service – at least for one of its clients – after a Washington state group with “tea party” in its name was approved by the federal agency to receive tax-exempt status as a lobbying organization.
It took seven years.
The group approved, Tri-Cities Tea Party, had requested permission in 2010 to operate as a 501(c)(4) organization. The Obama administration was embroiled in a scandal over instructions to IRS agents to harass and obstruct “tea party,” Christian and other conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status.
“No group of citizens, whether conservative or liberal, should ever have their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech or the freedom of association infringed by a targeting scheme by a government agency. No group should be forced to wait more than seven years to receive a determination on their request for tax-exempt status,” said the ACLJ, which represented the Washington state group.
“This is a significant victory – just days before Tax Day. But this issue is not over. We are still fighting on behalf of Tri-Cities and other clients to see that they receive justice and those responsible for this unconstitutional targeting scheme are held accountable.”
It took seven years.
The group approved, Tri-Cities Tea Party, had requested permission in 2010 to operate as a 501(c)(4) organization. The Obama administration was embroiled in a scandal over instructions to IRS agents to harass and obstruct “tea party,” Christian and other conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status.
“No group of citizens, whether conservative or liberal, should ever have their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech or the freedom of association infringed by a targeting scheme by a government agency. No group should be forced to wait more than seven years to receive a determination on their request for tax-exempt status,” said the ACLJ, which represented the Washington state group.
“This is a significant victory – just days before Tax Day. But this issue is not over. We are still fighting on behalf of Tri-Cities and other clients to see that they receive justice and those responsible for this unconstitutional targeting scheme are held accountable.”