IRS Official Who Oversaw Tax Exemption Now Heads Affordable Care Act Office

An Internal Revenue Service official who oversaw tax exemption at the time when the agency targeted conservative Tea Party groups is now overseeing the IRS' Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act office, according to an ABC News report.

Sarah Hall Ingram served as commissioner of the IRS office responsible for tax-exempt organizations from 2009 through 2012. She departed that role to serve as director of the IRS office overseeing healthcare reform implementation.

Ms. Ingram's successor, Joseph Grant, has taken heat for the recent IRS scandal. He announced yesterday that he would retire June 3 despite being appointed as commissioner of the tax-exempt office only a week ago, according to the report.

News broke this week of the IRS targeting conservative political groups for tougher scrutiny in their applications for tax-exempt status. It has prompted a ripple effect for scrutiny and concern for the PPACA, as well, since the IRS is responsible for overseeing the tax credits and tax increases in the law and for ensuring businesses and individuals comply with the individual mandate and other major provisions.

The scandal came up in the House's 37th attempt to strike the PPACA yesterday, as bill sponsor Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said the IRS is politically biased and not fit to enforce the law. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has also introduced a bill called the "Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act of 2013," which would prohibit the Secretary of the Treasury or any delegate, including the IRS, from enforcing the Affordable Care Act.

More Articles on the IRS and the PPACA:

Could the IRS Tea Party Scandal Harm the Healthcare Reform Law?
House Votes to Repeal the PPACA — for 37th Time
PPACA Compliance Will Take 190M Hours Per Year: GOP


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