IRS workers were told to flag 'progressive' groups, memos show

Documents released by congressional Democrats show employees weren't just looking for tea party organizations when they screened nonprofit applications.

By Joseph Tanfani, Los Angeles Times
8:03 PM PDT, June 24, 2013

WASHINGTON — Internal Revenue Service employees used other politically-loaded terms besides "tea party" when they culled applications for tax-exempt status and then subjected them to extra scrutiny — including the words "progressive" and "blue," according to agency memos.

The lists with key words to watch for, released Monday by congressional Democrats, are the first documents showing that IRS employees were instructed to flag other types of nonprofit groups engaged in politics, not just conservative ones.

"Common thread is the word 'progressive,'" said "Be on the Lookout" memos sent to workers in the tax-exempt division of the IRS. "Activities appear to lean toward a new political party. Activities are partisan and appear as anti-Republican."

One memo, heavily redacted by the IRS, also tells employees to watch for groups engaged in advocacy on disputed territories in the Middle East, saying the applications "may be inflammatory" and "signify propaganda."

(More here.)