Updated: 10:07 a.m. ET
Amid ongoing scrutiny over alleged discrimination in IRS targeting practices, acting commissioner Steven Miller on Friday apologized on behalf the agency for "the mistakes that we made and the poor service we provided," but he said he did not think partisanship drove the practices now under investigation. Miller also insisted he did not "mislead" either the American people or Congress.
Public questioning began Friday morning in the House Ways and Means Committee, where Miller and J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), faced questions about an internal policy whereby the IRS targeted for higher, often burdensome scrutiny conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. Earlier this week, TIGTA released a report detailing the implementation of these practices by IRS officials.
"First and foremost, as acting commissioner, I want to apologize on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service," Miller said. "Partisanship or even the perception of partisanship has no place at the IRS. It cannot even appear to be a consideration in determining the tax exemption of an organization."
But, he said, "I do not believe that partisanship motivated the people who engaged in the practices described."
"I think that what happened here is that foolish mistakes were made" in the name of sorting through an increase in applications, Miller said. The IRS "learned its lesson," he added, and has "implemented changes to make sure that this type of thing never happens again."
According to George, the IRS was guilty of targeting conservative groups, delaying tax-exempt applications for those groups, and requested unnecessary information when scrutinizing those applications.
"The IRS was following inappropriate criteria," George said. "These findings have raised troubling questions about whether the IRS has effective management, oversight and control" over certain parts of the agency.
On Wednesday, President Obama decried the conduct at the IRS "inexcusable," and announced that Miller is stepping down from his post as of early June.
Amid ongoing scrutiny over alleged discrimination in IRS targeting practices, acting commissioner Steven Miller on Friday apologized on behalf the agency for "the mistakes that we made and the poor service we provided," but he said he did not think partisanship drove the practices now under investigation. Miller also insisted he did not "mislead" either the American people or Congress.
Public questioning began Friday morning in the House Ways and Means Committee, where Miller and J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), faced questions about an internal policy whereby the IRS targeted for higher, often burdensome scrutiny conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. Earlier this week, TIGTA released a report detailing the implementation of these practices by IRS officials.
"First and foremost, as acting commissioner, I want to apologize on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service," Miller said. "Partisanship or even the perception of partisanship has no place at the IRS. It cannot even appear to be a consideration in determining the tax exemption of an organization."
But, he said, "I do not believe that partisanship motivated the people who engaged in the practices described."
"I think that what happened here is that foolish mistakes were made" in the name of sorting through an increase in applications, Miller said. The IRS "learned its lesson," he added, and has "implemented changes to make sure that this type of thing never happens again."
According to George, the IRS was guilty of targeting conservative groups, delaying tax-exempt applications for those groups, and requested unnecessary information when scrutinizing those applications.
"The IRS was following inappropriate criteria," George said. "These findings have raised troubling questions about whether the IRS has effective management, oversight and control" over certain parts of the agency.
On Wednesday, President Obama decried the conduct at the IRS "inexcusable," and announced that Miller is stepping down from his post as of early June.