IRS To Review GOP Inquiry Into Clinton Foundation

by Matt Vespa for TOWNHALL

Guy wrote that some have called it a slush fund; others have noted that it’s a bank where favors are deposited with the Clinton family. Either way, Hillary Clinton may soon have to face questions about the dealings of her family non-profit, which has already found itself in ethical hot water over the timing of some donations and corresponding actions favorable to the donors. For example, Hillary Clinton (and Barack Obama) was against the Columbia Free Trade Agreement, mostly due to human and labor rights concerns. One energy company, Pacific Rubiales, was at the center of the labor controversy. Its founder Frank Giustra gave millions to the Clinton Foundation, as did Rubiales, and Clinton did a 180-degree turn in her position on the matter. Giustra is now on the Clinton Foundation’s board of directors.

Also, there were arms deals that soared into the billions that went to governments that donated millions to the Foundation. Well, now, the Internal Revenue Service has confirmed that they’re referring GOP inquires into those matters to their exempt organizations division for review to see if any felonious activity occurred, the same division that landed the embroiled the agency in scandal after it was alleged that they were targeting conservative non-profits. The Daily Caller was the first to report on this matter (via Fox News):

The IRS confirmed in a letter it is looking into claims of “pay-to-play” practices at the Clinton Foundation, after dozens of Republican lawmakers requested a review of potential “criminal conduct” at the organization founded by the family at the center of this week’s Democratic National Convention.
Commissioner John Koskinen wrote in a July 22 letter to Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn that the issue has been “forwarded” to the IRS “Exempt Organizations Examinations” program in Dallas.
Asked for comment on the referral, the agency said in a statement: “The IRS receives referrals from a variety of sources. We forward all referrals to the appropriate area for consideration of whether there are issues that justify further review. We have standard processes and procedures we follow when we receive information or referrals from outside groups. Due to federal privacy protections, the IRS cannot comment on individual taxpayers or organizations.”

The request for an examination came in a July 15 letter from 64 House Republicans including Tennessee Rep. Blackburn. In the run-up to the Democratic convention where Hillary Clinton was nominated for president Tuesday, they asked the FBI, IRS and Federal Trade Commission to examine the dealings of the foundation.
“From the information we have been able to gather, it appears the Clinton Foundation is a ‘pay to play’ sham charity that needs to be investigated,” Blackburn said in a statement on Tuesday. “The Clintons have used their Foundation to personally enrich themselves at the expense of American foreign policy. At a minimum, the Foundation’s tax-exempt status needs to be reviewed and revoked immediately.”

Just like the FBI, don’t expect much from the IRS referral. There may be a lot of damaging information and odd coincidences between the donor, the donation, and the favorable event that benefited an interest connected with the individual, but this is from an agency that’s also been dragging its feet on releasing documents relating to whether they did target conservative organizations. That’s still a thorn in its side, and I doubt the agency will be enthusiastic about possibly torpedoing Clinton with a finding that play-to-play does occur at the Clinton Foundation. It’s a wonderful mirage. At the same time, we can say that Clinton is still under FBI investigation since their probe into the charity hasn’t concluded.

                   SWIRCA to Host Senior Olympics

More than 180 seniors will be competing in the Vanderburgh County Assisted Living and Nursing Home Games this Wednesday.

The Assisted Living Homes will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the Nursing Home Games will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Both games will be at SWIRCA’s Activity Center located on West Virginia Street.

Seniors will play numerous events, including washers, ball toss, bean bag toss, fishing, ring toss, and wheelchair races. More than 10 healthcare facilities will have residents at SWIRCA to play in the games. Medals will be given out to the first, second, and third place winners in every event. Each participant will receive a t-shirt, lunch, and a ribbon.

Each of SWIRCA’s six counties host their own Nursing Home & Assisted Living Games. Perry County will host theirs Thursday, August 4th and Posey County will be played Friday, August 5th. Warrick, Spencer, and Gibson counties held theirs over the last week.

For additional information on SWIRCA, visit SWIRCA or call 812-464-7800.

             Basden RV Donates Check To 911 Gives Hope

A local business is doing what it can to give back to the community. Early Tuesday, Basden RV donated $2,500 to 911 Gives Hope, which helps law enforcement help families during serious situations.

Evansville Police Chief Billy Bolin says they could not do what they do without the support of local businesses.

And he says, this is not the first time Basden RV lended a helping hand.

They have helped them out during the 911 Gives Hope toy drives.

Billy Bolin says, “We’ll use one of their RVs just to keep our volunteers warm or to go and sit down, take a break because we will be out there throughout the night. So not only are they giving money, but they’ve been helping us for quite a while.”

The company also donated another $2,500 to Echo Housing Corporation, which helps Veterans with housing.

Holy Rosary Hosts Ribbon Cutting Event Of Newly Constructed Pre-School

Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Evansville recently completed construction of a new preschool to serve the parish. And Tuesday morning officials cut a ribbon to celebrate. The new facility is connected to the school’s kindergarten wing, bringing preschool through 8th grade students together under one roof for the first time.

It’s also been designed and built for more activities, such as play, music, and art. School officials say it’s satisfying to see the project completed.

Holy Rosary Pastor Bernie Etienne says, “The groundbreaking was a thrill in and of itself because it took so much work just to get to that point. But now to see the building at completion, and to go from the architectural renderings to what we have now is just beyond what our expectations were.”

The parish broke ground just over a year ago, and final construction on curbs and gutters outside is expected to be finished in time for school to begin.

Newburgh Showplace Cinemas Announces New Addition To Its Complex

A mega-arcade, 20-lane bowling alley, and a two-story laser tag arena — you will be able to find all of this in the tri-state. Showplace Cinemas Newburgh will add a 30,000-square-foot Family Entertainment Center in Newburgh on Bell Oaks Drive.

The facility will have 20 Brunswick bowling lanes, 60 of the newest video games and simulators, and an American themed restaurant and bar with outdoor patio seating. It is designed so families can watch a movie, have dinner, and enjoy video games and laser tag.

“Showplace Cinemas’ has been a leader in the local family movie theater scene for over 46 years, and I’m confident the tri-state will love this new exciting concept of entertainment,” Showplace Cinemas co-owner Paul Stieler said.

The Family Entertainment Center is projected to have a grand opening in the fall of 2017.

State Won’t Appeal Order Blocking Abortion Law

Dave Stafford for www.theindianalawyer.com

A federal judge’s order blocking a divisive and restrictive abortion law signed this year by Gov. Mike Pence will not be appealed, Indiana Lawyer has learned. The decision not to appeal at this time effectively punts a decision on a possible future appeal to new state office-holders to be elected in November.

District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt in Indianapolis on June 30 granted a preliminary injunction sought by Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, blocking House Enrolled Act 1337 from taking effect July 1. The deadline for a notice of appeal of Pratt’s injunction order passed without a notice of appeal filed by the state. Pratt’s ruling, while appealable, was not a final judgment in the case, but she wrote that her ruling was based on the legal conclusion that Planned Parenthood was likely to succeed on the merits of its argument that the law was unconstitutional.

The law Pratt blocked would have prohibited abortions because of genetic abnormality, race, sex or ancestry; mandated disposal of an aborted fetus only through burial or cremation; and required abortion providers to inform patients of the law’s anti-discrimination provisions and what they prohibited. Proponents of the law characterized it as an anti-discrimination measure providing dignity for the unborn; opponents termed it an unprecedented assault on a woman’s right to abortion recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court since Roe v. Wade.

“After reviewing the case with our clients and discussing the case procedurally with the plaintiffs, the State has no need to pursue an interlocutory appeal at this point since all the State’s legal rights are preserved,” said Bryan Corbin, spokesman for Attorney General Greg Zoeller. “Instead, the case will proceed on the merits to the final judgment stage, with additional briefing before the same U.S. District Court. The parties will work on proposing a joint case management plan setting forth deadlines for future actions in the case. If there were a final judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, then the State would likely appeal that.”

Pence spokeswoman Kara Brooks referred a message seeking comment to the AG’s office.

American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk said Planned Parenthood would now move for summary judgment in the case. Briefing alone on that motion will extend beyond the Nov. 8 general election, he said. That means the decision on whether to appeal Pratt’s ruling is likely to be made by whomever voters elect in November as governor and attorney general.

Pence is running for vice president with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, while Zoeller opted not to seek another term as AG after losing a Republican primary for a congressional race. Democrat John Gregg and Republican Eric Holcomb are running for governor; Democrat Lorenzo Arredondo and Republican Curtis Hill are the candidates for attorney general.

Pratt’s ruling came the same week the Supreme Court of the United States in a 5-3 decision rolled back a restrictive Texas abortion law. Justices found the Texas law’s increased regulations on abortion clinics were medically unnecessary and unconstitutionally limited a woman’s right to an abortion.

Since that decision and the striking of HEA 1337, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky also sued the state seeking an injunction against a 2016 Indiana abortion law requiring women to have an ultrasound at least 18 hours before an abortion.