June, 04 2013, 02:45pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jordan Libowitz,,jlibowitz@citizensforethics.org,.
CREW Congratulates May's Scoundrel of the Month: Sen. Mitch McConnell
The scandal surrounding the IRS last month provoked bipartisan outrage, but a few members of Congress couldn't resist the opportunity to spin the news to suit their own political agendas. In a particularly brazen take, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tied the inappropriate targeting of conservative groups to the effort to pass the DISCLOSE Act, leading CREW's voters to once again crown him Scoundrel of the Month.
WASHINGTON
The scandal surrounding the IRS last month provoked bipartisan outrage, but a few members of Congress couldn't resist the opportunity to spin the news to suit their own political agendas. In a particularly brazen take, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) tied the inappropriate targeting of conservative groups to the effort to pass the DISCLOSE Act, leading CREW's voters to once again crown him Scoundrel of the Month.
In his remarkably dishonest op-ed in the Washington Post, Sen. McConnell claimed the wrongdoing at the IRS stemmed from a broader "culture of intimidation" that included the DISCLOSE Act, which would require 501(c)(4) groups to identify their donors. Sen. McConnell has led the charge against DISCLOSE, refusing to allow the Senate to even begin debate on the measure.
"After consistently opposing efforts to bring greater transparency to campaign spending, Sen. McConnell ludicrously claimed the answer to mismanagement at the IRS is even more secrecy," said CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan. "In reality, this scandal proves what CREW and others have said all along: The IRS should follow the clear language of the law, which bars social welfare organizations from spending money on elections."
With his win this May, Sen. McConnell has been named Scoundrel of the Month three times in 2013 alone. CREW's voters previously conferred the dubious distinction on the minority leader in January, after he bragged about thwarting filibuster reform, and in April, after an illicit recording of a McConnell campaign meeting revealed his staff may have been performing campaign work on their official time.
Nominations are already being accepted for June's Scoundrel of the Month. People, entities, and agencies are all eligible. Submit your choices by June 21st. Voting will begin the following week.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials -- regardless of party affiliation -- who sacrifice the common good to special interests. CREW advances its mission using a combination of research, litigation and media outreach.
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