The embattled Internal Revenue Service has enjoyed a bit of a reprieve from Congressional hearings, but the grilling resumes next week.
On Wednesday, June 26, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wants to talk about the tax agency's contract with Strong Castle Inc. of Washington, D.C.
In 2012, when the company was known as Signet Computers, Inc., it was awarded an $80 million computer contract with the IRS.
Two other companies, however, filed protests with the Government Accountability Office, questioning Signet/Strong's certification as a HUBZone, that is, a small business located in a highly underutilized business zone.
Then in February, Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) launched an investigation after receiving information about a personal relationship between an IRS contracting officer and Strong Castle CEO Braulio Castillo.
The Oversight Committee's hearing notice has no details as to who will testify.
The Ways and Means Committee is more forthcoming on what it wants at its hearing on Thursday, June 27.
Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) expects to hear details from the IRS on its internal investigation into its questionable review process of Tea Party groups seeking tax-exempt status.
Daniel Werfel, IRS principal deputy commissioner, will be the only
witness at the hearing. (I'm sure Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George is thrilled that he didn't get an invitation!)
In addition to providing the tax-writing panel with his review of the 501(c)(4) application process, Camp and crew also want to hear from Werfel about "any remedial and disciplinary actions that have been implemented by the IRS."
That is, the Representatives want to know who has or will be fired.
So mark your calendars, folks. The IRS bashing begins anew.
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