WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee released the following statement today after the committee’s  hearing on the targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS):

“I was disappointed with both former IRS Commissioner Shulman’s and former IRS acting-commissioner Miller’s performance in today’s Finance Committee hearing.  While Mr. Miller at least apologized for the targeting of conservative groups on his watch, Mr. Shulman refused to take any personal responsibility.

“We unfortunately have more questions than answers after today’s hearings.  Who was involved in the juvenile plan to plant a question for Lois Lerner in order to leak out the results of the investigation before it was made public?  Where exactly does the buck stop at the IRS? And perhaps most important, if Mr. Shulman’s excuse that the IRS is overworked, overstretched, and too distant from their core mission is to be taken seriously, how can this organization be trusted as the primary enforcement mechanism of Obamacare?

“The American people should not be forced to fear of the tax man, yet under this regime it appears they had good reason to. We need answers, the American people deserve answers, and it is my sincere hope that the Finance Committee continues to pursue this matter until sufficient answers are received.”

To view Senator Roberts time during this morning’s Finance Committee Hearing click the videos below:

Opening Remarks: Click to Watch 

Second Round of Questioning: Click to Watch

Last year, Senator Roberts joined Senate Finance Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) in sending letters to the IRS requesting information about these improper reviews. The three letters can be found on the Senate Finance Committee’s website here.

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