Rep. Kelly Urges IRS to Audit Planned Parenthood

Confronts IRS commissioner about controversial group’s tax-exempt status at Ways & Means hearing

Sends follow-up letter requesting group be audited

Rep. Kelly: “As a non-profit, they look rather profitable”

WATCH HERE

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) – a member of the House Ways and Means Committee – participated in this morning’s Oversight Subcommittee hearing on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s audit selection process featuring testimony by IRS commissioner John Koskinen. During his remarks, Rep. Kelly inquired about the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status of Planned Parenthood, which has recently come under severe scrutiny for allegedly harvesting and selling body parts of unborn children, which is illegal. Following the hearing, Rep. Kelly sent Commissioner Koskinen a formal letter officially requesting that the agency conduct an audit of Planned Parenthood. The letter can be viewed here.

Excerpts of Rep. Kelly’s remarks to IRS Commissioner Koskinen:

“This comes down to the general public. I want to ask you a question that just came up the last couple days, and it really bothers me and it bothers a lot of people in the Third District back in Pennsylvania that I represent. … Planned Parenthood has been in the news for what appears to be commercial activity—the sale of fetal tissue. I’m assuming you’ve seen some of the videos; I have and most of the people I represent have. Planned Parenthood operates a tax exempt entity for both 501(c)(3) as well as a 501(c)(4). According to Planned Parenthood’s 990 Form filed in 2013, they had gross receipts of $196,986,791. So as a non-profit, they look rather profitable. However, given the recent videos that have come to light, my question to you from an outcry from the general public: Does the IRS plan to audit or investigate Planned Parenthood for what looks to be a commercial activity?”

“Really what we’re talking about today is restoring the faith and trust that the American people have to have in the IRS, and they look to us in Congress as their oversight to protect them at all cost. And you and I both work for the same people. I do not work for the Republican Party; I work for the people of Pennsylvania’s Third District, and more importantly, the people of the United States—the same as you. I’m looking at an organization right now – Planned Parenthood – with a 501(c)(3) status and looking at the numbers and saying, ‘My God, do we really have a blind eye and a deaf ear to what’s going on, and are these people ever going to be audited?’”

“At some point somebody somewhere should be hearing all the bells and whistles going out and the smell of sulfur in the room to say, ‘We better look into what’s going on here because there’s something that’s gone off track.’ And I would just say referrals can come from the general public. I would think the people of America are asking the IRS to take a very good look into this organization that has a 501(c)(3) status. I’m going to look into it; I want you to get back to me.”

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