{mosads}”The IRS has clearly overstepped their boundaries, and it’s time for these House Democrats to denounce their behavior and call for action,” said NRCC Communications Director Andrea Bozek.
“These members should know better than to allow this type of assault to occur, and their silence is offensive to their constituencies and to endless groups across the country.”
The ads are hitting Democratic Reps. Scott Peters (Calif.), Elizabeth Esty (Conn.), William Enyart (Ill.), Tim Walz (Minn.), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Rick Nolan (Minn.), and Pete Gallego (Texas).
Of the seven lawmakers, only one, Peters, has a statement available on his or her website.
Speaking to The Hill on Tuesday evening, Esty said she was “deeply disturbed” by the allegations of misconduct.
“I think everyone should be concerned about the IRS behaving properly, so I’m going to be vigorous in examining, you know, what happened. I think we need to have congressional oversight and a good, hard look at it,” she said.
Asked whether she was concerned that Republicans would make this a reelection issue, Esty said no.
“I’m going to do my job for my district, and that includes vigorous oversight of all agencies, including the IRS,” she said.
The new ads make it clear Republicans will seek to keep the IRS in the headlines. A government report has found that the group targeted conservative groups, including organizations with “Tea Party” in their titles, for audits.
The news brought near-universal condemnation from Republicans and Democrats. President Obama, in a Tuesday statement, called the IRS actions “intolerable and inexcusable.”