Treasury Inspector General Report on IRS Targeting of Conservative Groups

The Inspector General for the U.S. Treasury Department, which includes the Internal Revenue Service, released its report on IRS targeting of some conservative groups applying for tax exempt status. The report can be read here.

Members of Congress have expressed outrage at the practice, and congressional panels are set to investigate the IRS handling of the requests.

President Barack Obama released a statement Tuesday night:

“I have now had the opportunity to review the Treasury Department watchdog’s report on its investigation of IRS personnel who improperly targeted conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status.…


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President Barack Obama Addresses People of Israel

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

Jerusalem International Convention Center

Jerusalem

4:37 P.M. IST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Well, it is a great honor to be with you here in Jerusalem, and I’m so grateful for the welcome that I’ve received from the people of Israel. Thank you. (Applause.) I bring with me the support of the American people — (applause) — and the friendship that binds us together. (Applause.)

Over the last two days, I’ve reaffirmed the bonds between our countries with Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Peres.…


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Both Oklahoma Senators Vote Against Confirming Brennan for CIA Post

Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, and Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, voted against confirming John Brennan as head of the CIA on Thursday. Coburn said he was incorrectly listed by the Senate clerk as voting for Brennan.…


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Sen. Tom Coburn to Have Dinner with President Barack Obama on Wednesday

Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, is among the Republican senators invited to have dinner with President Barack Obama at a Washington hotel, Coburn’s press secretary said.
The president has been reaching out to GOP senators this week to talk about a major deficit reduction deal. Coburn was among those called by the president.

Update:
According to The Washington Post, these are the GOP senators expected to attend the dinner:
John McCain (Ariz.), Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Ronald H. Johnson (Wis.), Patrick J.…


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Sen. Jim Inhofe Responds to Pick for Environmental Protection Agency

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after President Barack Obama announced that he will nominate Gina McCarthy as the new EPA administrator.

“By nominating Gina McCarthy to replace Lisa Jackson, the President is making it clear that he wants to continue pursuing an aggressive climate agenda at EPA. As head of the Air office, McCarthy oversaw some of the agency’s most costly and controversial rules, like the Utility MACT.…


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First Lady’s Guests for State of the Union Speech

In addition to Oklahoma City teacher Susan Bumgarner, first lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will have these guests for Tuesday’s State of the Union speech:

Sergeant Sheena Adams (Vista, CA)

Team Advisor & Lead Instructor, Female Engagement Team

A native of Kauai, Hawaii, Sergeant Adams joined the Marine Corps in 2003 and attended recruit training in Parris Island, S.C. In 2010, Sergeant Adams joined the Female Engagement Team (FET) and was deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan from September 2010 to April 2011 in direct support of 1st Battalion 8th Marines in Musa Qal’eh District.…


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Schedule for President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Ceremony on Jan. 21

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were formally sworn in to their second terms on Sunday in separate private ceremonies attended mainly by family members and friends. They will repeat their oaths on Monday before hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Washington.
Here is the schedule of events, scheduled to begin at about 10 a.m. central time:

Prelude: The United States Marine Band

Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks: Sen. Charles Schumer

Invocation: Myrlie Evers-Williams

Musical Selection: The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Oath of Office for Vice President Joe Biden, administered by Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Musical Selection: America the Beautiful, by James Taylor

Oath of Office for President Obama, administered by Chief Justice of the United States John G.…


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President Barack Obama Proclaims Wednesday as Religious Freedom Day

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DAY, 2013
- – – – – – -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
Foremost among the rights Americans hold sacred is the freedom to worship as we choose. Today, we celebrate one of our Nation’s first laws to protect that right — the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Written by Thomas Jefferson and guided through the Virginia legislature by James Madison, the Statute affirmed that “Almighty God hath created the mind free” and “all men shall be free to profess .…


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Robert E. Bacharach Renominated for Federal Appeals Court

Robert E. Bacharach, an Oklahoma City magistrate judge whose nomination for a federal appeals court was blocked by Republicans in the last six months of 2012, was renominated for the post on Thursday by President Barack Obama.
Bacharach had strong bipartisan support for his nomination to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Both of Oklahoma’s Republican senators endorsed him. But Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, said “inside politics” doomed his nomination in the presidential election year. Republicans refused to allow a vote on him in the months before the presidential election and the weeks after the election.…


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President Obama’s Remarks on School Shooting in Connecticut

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

_________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release December 14, 2012

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

ON SCHOOL SHOOTING IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

3:15 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director Mueller. I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the victims, counsel their families.…


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