IRS right to probe tax status
6/10/2013I was pleased to see that your June 1 editorial “Shrinking scandal” attempted to put the Internal Revenue Service “scandal” into perspective. The IRS has enormous power that merits stringent oversight.
However, it is appropriate that the IRS closely examine the purposes of entities that seek tax-exempt status, especially those that appear to be politically motivated. Groups that are primarily engaged in political activity, whether conservative or liberal, are not entitled to tax-exempt status.
Two years ago, I shepherded a request for tax-exempt status through the application process on behalf of a local history society. After submitting a rather daunting application, we were questioned by an IRS agent and asked to submit additional information and justification.
As a taxpayer, I was pleased that our request was not automatically approved without any investigation of its propriety. The IRS questions were appropriate. Our application was approved within a few months.
JEAN BOLTZ
Perrysburg
IRS’ behavior not expected in U.S.
The problems with the Internal Revenue Service should be disturbing to everyone (“IRS’ spending of $4.1M for 1 conference detailed; Luxury suites, videos, gifts among expenses,” June 5).
What would The Blade and the minority community say if Toledo police picked up every black and Muslim, strip-searched them, and kept them in custody for a long time while investigating them?
This is effectively what the IRS has done to the organizations it has investigated because of their political leanings. This is the type of activity you would expect of other countries, not the United States.
KEN SMITH
Lake Township
Rothman’s work inspired writer
Thanks to The Blade for the obituary of Seymour Rothman (“Veteran Blade columnist thrived among celebrities, everyday citizens,” June 5). It was excellent.
He was a great guy, and the fun I saw him having as a reporter probably saved me from a life as a bad poet or a worse novelist.
P.J. O’ROURKE
Peterborough, N.H.
Editor’s note: The writer is a Toledo native who is a political satirist and author.
Paper route a Rothman legacy
I was sorry to read of the death of Seymour Rothman. I very much enjoyed reading his writings.
Not only did Mr. Rothman write for The Blade for many years, he had a Blade paper route of about 50 customers in the late 1920s or in the early 1930s in the Lagrange Street and Sherman School area.
I can vouch for this because I (and my brother Sanford) purchased the paper route from him for 10 cents a customer, about $5.
NATE SCHWARTZ
Drummond Road