IRS IG Report: Targeting Conservatives Began In 2010

The targeting of conservatives by the IRS started earlier and was more extensive than the IRS acknowledged last week, according to a draft IRS inspector general report obtained by ABC News.

As we reported on "Good Morning America" this morning, the IRS began targeting "Tea Party or similar organizations" in March 2010. That was when the Cincinnati-based IRS unit responsible for overseeing the applications for tax exempt status starting using the phrases "Tea Party," "patriots" and "9/12? to search for applications warranting greater scrutiny.

During this first phase, 10 Tea Party cases were identified. By April of 2010, 18 Tea Party organizations were targeted, including three that had already been approved for tax-exempt status.

By June 2011, the unit had flagged over 100 Tea Party-related applications and the criteria used to scrutinize organizations had grown considerably, flagging not just "Tea Party" or "Patriot" in group names, but also groups that were working on issues like "government debt," "taxes" and even organizations making statements that "criticize how the country is being run."

The report, done by the Inspector General for the IRS, also shows that senior IRS officials in Washington was aware of what was going on as early as August 4, 2011 when, according to the report, the IRS chief counsel held a meeting with the IRS's Rulings and Agreements unit "so that everyone would have the latest information on the issue."

Click here to see the draft report.

Related: Senator Says Obama Should Condemn IRS Targeting

Related: IRS Targeted Tea Party Groups

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Israel warns U.S. about Russian arms sale to Syria -report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israel warned the United States in recent days that Russia plans to sell advanced ground-to-air missile systems to Syria despite Western pressure on Moscow to hold off on such a move, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper said U.S. officials had confirmed they were analyzing the Israeli reports but would not comment on whether they believed the sale of S-300 missile batteries was near.

No comment was immediately available from officials at the Pentagon or U.S. State Department.

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been seeking to purchase the advanced S-300 missile batteries, which can intercept both manned aircraft and guided missiles, from Moscow for many years.

Western nations have repeatedly urged Russia to block the sale, which they argue could complicate any international intervention in Syria's escalating civil war.

The Journal said the information provided to Washington by Israel showed that Syria has been making payments on a 2010 agreement with Moscow to buy four batteries for $900 million, including a payment made this year through Russia's foreign-development bank, known as the VEB.

The paper said the package included six launchers and 144 operational missiles, each with a range of 125 miles (200 miles), with an initial shipment expected in the next three months.

While the effectiveness of Syria's aging air force is unclear, most experts believe that its air-defense missile system, which was upgraded after a 2007 Israeli strike on a suspected nuclear site, remains quite potent.

(Reporting By Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by David Brunnstrom)

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CFPB Report Highlights the Burden of Student Loan Debt & Options For Making Repayment More Affordable

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau details the staggering debt that burdens an increasing number of graduating college students. The report highlights how this debt burden is having a long term damaging "domino effect" on the economy by making it even more difficult for young adults to purchase their first home, start a small business, and save for retirement. 

The report identifies a number of potential solutions supported by Consumers Union to help students manage their debt, including giving private student loan borrowers the ability to refinance their loans, negotiate better lower payments over time, and a "credit clean slate" for borrowers in default. 

"The difficulties students face paying off high loan debt are all too familiar to millions of American families across the country," said Suzanne Martindale, staff attorney for Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports.  "Enabling students to refinance their loans and negotiate more favorable terms with lenders would provide much needed relief for struggling graduates and the economy."

Earlier today, Senator Elizabeth Warren introduced legislation that would lower the interest rate on subsidized federal student loans for one year to .75 percent – the same rate that big banks are able to borrow money from the Federal Reserve Board.  The current 3.4 percent rate on federal loans is set to go up to 6.8 percent on July 1 unless Congress acts to extend the existing rate. 

"Senator Warren's bill underscores the great disparity between the extremely low interest rate at which big banks pay to borrow money and the higher rates that students often pay," said Pamela Banks, Policy Counsel for Consumers Union. "Congress needs to act to find a way to help struggling students manage skyrocketing loan debt."

Consumers Union has urged regulators and Congress to adopt a number of student loan reforms.  For more information, see Consumers Union's Seven Principles for Fair Student Lending.

SOURCE Consumers Union

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Counterpart wins Platinum Award for Annual Report, honorable mention for video

ARLINGTON, Va., May 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Counterpart International's annual report won a prestigious Platinum Hermes Creative Award from the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals.  (www.Counterpart.org)

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110818/DC54764LOGO )

The nonprofit's video—"Counterpart in 90 Seconds"—earned an honorable mention from the Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals.

"The 2011 Annual Report combined innovative design, outstanding writing and terrific photography into one complete package that highlights our work around the globe," says Joan Parker, President and CEO of Counterpart. "I want to thank the Communications team for its outstanding work on the annual report and the promotional video."

Approximately 5,600 entries were received for the 2013 Hermes Award, which is an international competition for creative professionals, organizers reported. Today, the annual competition is one of the largest of its kind. (www.HermesAwards.com)

The 2011 Annual Report was designed by Bruce Jewett of Double-0 Marketing (www.Double0Marketing.com); it was written by Jeff Baron, Michael J. Zamba and Maggie Farrand; photos were from multiple sources, including David Snyder (www.dsnyderphotography.com) and Nadia Abdullah.

You may see the 2011 Annual Report here: (www.counterpart.org/news/publications-websites)

The video, which earned honorable mention, provides a fast-paced overview of the global nonprofit. The lead writer of the script Michael J. Zamba, the video editor was Amy Overbeck (www.OverbeckMedia.com) and the voice over was by Mike O'Brian (mikeobrianvoiceovers.com). Photos and video footage were from multiple sources.

You may see the "Counterpart in 90 seconds" and other videos here: http://www.counterpart.org/multimedia

About Counterpart International
Counterpart International is a global development organization that works in partnership to empower people, communities and institutions to drive and sustain their own development.

For 48 years, Counterpart has been working in partnership with communities in need to address complex problems related to economic development, food security and nutrition, and building effective governance and institutions. Learn more at www.Counterpart.org.

For more information:
Michael J. Zamba
Vice President of Communications & Partnerships
Counterpart International
(541) 447-5786
mzamba@counterpart.org

SOURCE Counterpart International

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