IRS official in charge during tea party targeting is now directing the agency's health care unit

PUBLISHED: 23:46 EST, 16 May 2013 | UPDATED: 23:46 EST, 16 May 2013

The woman who was in charge of a scandal-mired unit of the Internal Revenue Service at the time that it was targeting tea party groups is now running the IRS office responsible for health care legislation, ABC News is reporting.

Sarah Hall Ingram served as commissioner of the unit that deals with tax-exempt organizations between 2009 and 2012. It was revealed last week that the unit subjected conservative organizations to undue scrutiny as they were applying for tax-exempt status between 2010 and 2012.

Ingram's successor, Joseph Grant - who was appointed commissioner of the tax-exempt office a week ago - is taking the fall for the scandal. He announced Thursday that he would be resigning from his position June 3.

Revealed: The woman who was in charge of a scandal-mired unit of the Internal Revenue Service at the time that it was targeting tea party groups is now running the IRS office responsible for health care legislation

Meanwhile, Ingram is now the director of the IRS' Affordable Care Act unit.

There are conflicting reports about when exactly Ingram left her job as commissioner of tax-exempt organizations to work for the health care office.

The IRS said she was assigned to help the agency implement the health care law in December 2010. But records show she was testifying before Congress in her capacity as commissioner of tax-exempt organizations as late as May 2012.

More...

According to a testimony she gave in November of 2011, Ingram was working in both offices simultaneously for some time. She introduced herself in the testimony as the commissioner of tax-exempt organizations, then added that she also serves as the 'executive lead on the IRS' operational planning and implementation of the small employer tax credit and other tax law provisions of the Affordable Care Act.'

Outrage: Lawmakers and tea party leaders hold a press conference on Capitol Hill regarding the IRS targeting of conservative groups

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the Internal Revenue Service following a meeting with Treasury Department officials

The revelations about Ingram are sure to add fuel to Republicans' opposition to the health care law, just as the House voted Thursday evening to fully repeal the legislation.

The vote is essentially meaningless, as a repeal would never make it through the Senate. But that won't stop Republicans from trying.

'Fully repealing ObamaCare will help us build a stronger, healthier economy, and will clear the way for patient-centered reforms that lower health care costs and protect jobs,' House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said after the vote.

Add your comments

Comments (37)

The comments below have not been moderated.

View all

Tyranny has shown its face and is not backing down.

- James , OKC, United States, 18/5/2013 13:10

Click to rate Rating 16

Abolish the IRS and institute a consumption tax. While we are revamping this agency, install term limits for all politicians

- Doubtful , Oxford, United States, 18/5/2013 11:50

Click to rate Rating 23

This is just what we need the fox guarding the hen house. One piece of advice ' DON'T EVER GET SICK '.

- Trader45 , U.S.A., 18/5/2013 06:08

Click to rate Rating 37

You know it's bad when everything that Sarah Palin said is coming true.

- katlady111 , Los Angeles, United States, 18/5/2013 05:51

Click to rate Rating 40

You can't make this stuff up. THE LUNATICS HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ASSYLUM

- noname , New York, United States, 18/5/2013 05:00

Click to rate Rating 45

Well, at least his motives are transparent.

- dvdcous , Colorado Springs, CO, 18/5/2013 04:56

Click to rate Rating 28

Obama, the leader of the end of our world as we know it, and I don't feel fine.

- miguel , Los Angeles Ca, 18/5/2013 04:38

Click to rate Rating 37

I wonder why there's no pictures of Sarah Hall Ingram.

- snakemeister , Birmingham-America, 18/5/2013 03:24

Click to rate Rating 36

If they know you are a conservative you will be denied health care until it's to late to save you then they will say we sent the approval but it must have been lost in the cloud!!!

- stoney , richmond va., United States, 18/5/2013 02:00

Click to rate Rating 50

America has started to resemble the old Soviet Union. I've never feared my government before. Like in the days of Communism, if you are not a card carrying member of The Party, you are an enemy of the state. Under Obamacare, partisans will determine who gets surgery and medical treatment or not. If you are a Republican, Libertarian or Independent, expect to get to the back of the line.

- HJ , Las Vegas, 18/5/2013 01:52

Click to rate Rating 59

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.