Bill Text: OR HJM20 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urging Congress to investigate the alleged abuses of power by the Internal Revenue Service and to correct the abuses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 23-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-07-08 - At Speaker's Desk upon adjournment. [HJM20 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2013-HJM20-Introduced.html
77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within { + braces and plus signs + } . LC 4051 House Joint Memorial 20 Sponsored by Representative CONGER, Senator KNOPP; Representatives BENTZ, CAMERON, DAVIS, ESQUIVEL, HUFFMAN, JOHNSON, KENNEMER, KRIEGER, MCLANE, OLSON, SMITH, SPRENGER, WHISNANT, WHITSETT, Senators BAERTSCHIGER JR, CLOSE, FERRIOLI, GEORGE, KRUSE, OLSEN, STARR SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced. Urges Congress to investigate alleged abuses of power by Internal Revenue Service and to take legislative action to correct abuses. JOINT MEMORIAL To the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled: We, your memorialists, the Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent as follows: Whereas Oregonians are shocked and appalled by the recent revelations of the widespread and politically motivated abuses of power by the Internal Revenue Service; and Whereas the Internal Revenue Service has, for purely political motives, trampled on the constitutional rights of our fellow citizens, including but not limited to their First Amendment rights to free speech and association; and Whereas the national media reported in May 2013 that the Internal Revenue Service had asked which books the members of certain political groups were reading and what they were posting on social websites; and Whereas the national media reported in May 2013 that the Internal Revenue Service had, in 2009, asked at least one activist group about the content of its prayers; and Whereas the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration reported in May 2013 that Internal Revenue Service staff had asked about the political affiliations of members of political groups applying for tax-exempt status; and Whereas the national media in May 2013 also reported that the same Inspector General's report indicated that previous abuses had not been fixed; and Whereas the Internal Revenue Service is a part of the Department of the Treasury, which is a department of the executive branch of the federal government; and Whereas Oregonians support the equal rights of all citizens, regardless of political or religious beliefs; and Whereas Oregonians oppose federal agency actions that discriminate against our fellow citizens on the basis of political beliefs, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability or veteran status; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon: (1) The Congress of the United States of America is respectfully urged to take all appropriate action, including but not limited to further investigation of Internal Revenue Service actions and the drafting of any appropriate legislation, to rein in the powers of, and increase congressional oversight over, the Internal Revenue Service. (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President of the United States and to each member of the Oregon Congressional Delegation. ----------