Sen. Cruz takes on more traditional GOP target: the IRS
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press
Jul 29, 2015 2:33 PM CDT
Senate Oversight, Agency Action, Federal Rights and Federal Courts subcommittee Chairman, Republican presidential candidate Chair Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, greets Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 29, 2015, prior to Koskinen...   (Associated Press)

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a week of fighting with other Republicans, Sen. Ted Cruz is taking on a more traditional GOP target: the IRS.

At a Senate hearing Wednesday, the Republican presidential candidate called the IRS the embodiment of everything that is wrong with government.

Cruz said the tax agency, which he wants to abolish, has stopped serving the American people.

Cruz was referring to a scandal that erupted in 2013 in which the IRS acknowledged that agents had improperly singled out conservative political groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for tax-exempt status.

At the hearing, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said the agency has taken steps to make sure it never happens again.

Last week, Cruz raised the ire of fellow Republicans when he accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of lying.

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