News Local/State

Illinois Tea Party Makes Call to Action at IRS Protest

 

Leaders of Illinois' tea party movement say revelations that the IRS targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny should fuel activists to "take back this country.''

About 100 people attended the Tuesday rally downtown Chicago. Similar events occurred in Downers Grove, Rockford and Springfield and other cities nationwide.

Former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh was among several tea party candidates elected in 2010. He says conservatives can prove that election wasn't a fluke by fighting back and winning seats in 2014.

Walsh says the IRS' actions were "crimes committed against Americans.''

The former Internal Revenue Service chief told a Senate committee Tuesday he doesn't know why his agency targeted tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. Douglas Shulman served from March 2008 until November 2012, when the targeting occurred.