Todd Rokita on Government Reform

Member of House Committee on House Administration.

The House Committee on House Administration deals with the general administration matters of the United States House of Representatives, such as:

• Appropriations for salaries and expenses
• Employment of persons by the House, including staff for Members, Delegates, the Resident Commissioner, and Committees; and reporters of debates.
• The Library of Congress, including management thereof.
• The House Library.
• Statuary and pictures.
• Acceptance or purchase of works of art for the Capitol.
• United States Botanic Garden.
• Purchase of books and manuscripts.
• The Smithsonian Institution and the incorporation of similar institutions .
• The Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards (Franking Commission).
• Printing and correction of the Congressional Record.
• Accounts of the House generally.
• Assignment of office space for Members and Committees.
• Services to the House, including House food services, parking facilities, and administration of the House Office Buildings and of the House wing of the Capitol.
• Travel of Members.
• Raising, reporting, and use of campaign contributions for candidates for office of Representative.
• Compensation, retirement, and other benefits of the Members, and employees of Congress.

Prohibit IRS audits targeting Tea Party political groups.

Congressional summary:: Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act: Requires the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) standards and definitions in effect on January 1, 2010, for determining whether an organization qualifies for tax-exempt status as an organization operated exclusively for social welfare to apply to such determinations after enactment of this Act. Prohibits any regulation, or other ruling, not limited to a particular taxpayer relating to such standards and definitions.

Proponent's argument in favor (Heritage Action, Feb. 26, 2014): H.R. 3865 comes in the wake of an attack on the Tea Party and other conservative organizations. The current IRS regulation is so broad and ill-defined that the IRS applies a "facts and circumstances" test to determine what constitutes "political activity" by an organization. This test can vary greatly depending on the subjective views of the particular IRS bureaucrat applying the test. IRS employees took advantage of this vague and subjective standard to unfairly delay granting tax-exempt status to Tea Party organizations and subject them to unreasonable scrutiny.

Text of sample IRS letter to Tea Party organizations:We need more information before we can complete our consideration of your application for exemption. Please provide the information requested on the enclosed Information Request by the response due date. Your response must be signed by an authorized person or officer whose name is listed on your application.

• Have you conducted or will you conduct candidate forums or other events at which candidates running for public offices are invited to speak?
• Have you attempted or will you attempt to influence the outcome of specific legislation?
• Do you directly or indirectly communicate with members of legislative bodies?
• Do you have a close relationship with any candidate for public office or political party?