McConnell Calls on IRS Commissioner to Squash Obama Administration Anti-Free Speech Rule
April 8, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor calling on Commissioner Koskinen to reject a proposed IRS rule that would suppress American free speech:
“This morning, IRS Commissioner Koskinen will testify before the Finance Committee.
“I’m sure members will be reminding him of this – and I know several sent a letter yesterday too – but I’d like to underline the point.
“Commissioner Koskinen recently led Congress to believe that his agency will not be imposing anti-free speech rules before this November’s election. It’s a point he basically reiterated again just the other day.
“So Congress plans to hold him to what he’s been leading the American people to believe.
“And honestly, what he really needs to do is stop the IRS from stepping on the First Amendment altogether.
“He needs to stop this proposed regulation, just as the Secretary of the Treasury told us he could do if he wanted.
“In fact, the House of Representatives recently voted to halt it too.
“Remember: Tens of thousands of Americans made their opinions known directly to the IRS about this regulation.
“It was an unprecedented response, and nearly all of the comments I saw were opposed.
“The comments came from straight across the political spectrum too.
“So Commissioner Koskinen needs to live up to what he told the Senate when we confirmed him — when he led us to believe he’d be an independent voice for reform. And as I’ve said before, Commissioner Koskinen has a choice. He can be a hero, like the IRS Commissioner who stood up to Nixon. Or he can be just another pawn of the Administration.
“Both Congress and the American people expect him to make the right decision.”