Source: Illinois Review
Tuesday, Coalition for Life of Iowa founder Susan Martinek testified to the House Ways and Means Committee on the harassment and intolerance her organization was subjected to by the Internal Revenue Service. Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society, accompanied Martinek to the hearing as her counsel.
"Coalition for Life of Iowa's testimony today, coupled with the many other pro-life organizations we've represented against the IRS, make it undisputedly clear that pro-life organizations were systematically treated in an unfair and biased manner by the IRS," said Brejcha. "Even New York Representative Charles Rangel, a liberal Democrat, referred to a 'cancer' inside the IRS that must be fixed."
Martinek shared how the religious and educational group she heads, an organization already incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation under Iowa law, was asked to surrender First Amendment rights of assembly, free speech, and religious expression. "In particular," she recalled, "the IRS wanted our assurances that we would not bother Planned Parenthood!"
"The IRS's questions centered on our educational activities, potential political activities, our prayer groups, and signage," explained Martinek. Coalition for Life of Iowa was verbally directed by IRS Agent Ms. Richards to sign, under penalty of perjury, a declaration that they would not picket Planned Parenthood, and told that, once the signed declaration was sent, they would receive their IRS determination letter.
Martinek shared details of the harassment, which Brejcha labeled as "blatant and offensive," and she told the Committee, "I speak today so that what happened to us – the IRS's demonstrated harassment, improper questions, and intolerance toward our message – may not happen to others."
Martinek testified alongside other witnesses including Tea Party advocates and the Chairman of the National Organization for Marriage. Her testimony repeatedly drew questions from members of Congress sitting on the Ways and Means Committee on both sides of the aisle.
