The IRS official who heads the tax exempt division is exercised her Fifth Amendment rights and declined to testify today before a House panel. Make no mistake: This is a huge victory for Republican Congressman Darrell Issa. And an IRS official taking the Fifth will only make the scandal bigger.
Tea Party groups hope the scandal at the IRS fires up their base the same way as heath care reform did in 2010.
The New York Times traces the IRS scandal to the first reports that Tea Party groups were complaining. And at the time, Washington and the White House dismissed it.
So far, President Obama’s approval ratings have held steady. Nate Silver wonders whether the improving economy is propping up the president’s poll numbers.
U.S. Congressman Peter King of New York says he sees hypocrisy in the way disaster relief is handled. King – a Republican – says he’s willing to overlook the hypocrisy of Oklahoma lawmakers who voted against relief aid for victims of Hurricane Sandy but who want aid for the victims of Monday’s tornado.
Fresh on the heels of Mark Sanford’s victory in South Carolina, another scandal-tainted politician is attempting a comeback: Anthony Weiner announced he’s running for mayor in New York.
Eric Garcetti will be the new mayor of Los Angeles. He defeated fellow Democrat Wendy Greuel last night.
Hardball staff