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Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), the top Democrat on the House Committee that oversees the Treasury Department, praised a move by the Treasury Department Inspector General (IG) to broaden a review into the possible use of civil servants for political purposes. The IG already was looking at the Department's analysis of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's tax proposals that appeared on a Republican National Committee (RNC) website. According to news reports, the IG broadened its investigation after Mr. Rangel brought to their attention several press releases that claimed to be "April 15th Tax Day Reminders" but included clearly political rhetoric.
"In the run-up to April 15th, one would think that the Treasury Department would have enough work to do to help Americans navigate the increasingly complex tax code. But not only were they doing campaign research on the Kerry tax plans, it now appears they were putting out ‘Tax Day reminders’ that were thinly disguised Bush campaign releases. They had nothing to do with April 15th and everything to do with November 2nd," said Rep. Rangel.
The following controversial language appeared in the Treasury Department news releases: "America has a choice: It can continue to grow the economy and create new jobs as the President’s policies are doing; or it can raise taxes on American families and small businesses, hurting economic recovery and future job creation." This same language also appeared verbatim on the RNC website in a document dated April 19.
In a follow-up letter sent today, Rep. Rangel thanked the IG and brought up several questions about the RNC and Treasury Department releases including who developed the language and whether the RNC might be privy to updated tax data before it was publically released.
"Nobody questions the right of Administration officials to speak for the President and explain his policies. But there is a difference between representing the Administration and using tax-payer provided resources for electioneering,'' said Rep. Rangel. "I asked the Inspector General to investigate this matter to determine whether there is a pattern of crossing that line at the Bush Treasury Department."
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