Watchdog report describes massive delays as IRS slow-walked Tea Party groups

Published May 14, 2013

FoxNews.com

The IRS program that flagged conservative groups for extra scrutiny was the result of "ineffective management" and "inappropriate criteria" -- and led to "substantial" delays in processing applications that in some cases lasted years, according to a watchdog report obtained by Fox News. 

The inspector general's report revealed that the program, first acknowledged by IRS officials last Friday, began in 2010. 

The report said the flawed criteria, which led to Tea Party and other groups being singled out, was allowed to stay in place for more than 18 months. 

The report said this resulted in substantial delays, with the majority of the applications sitting idle in IRS offices for 13 months.

View the original article here

Senate delays action on Internet sales tax bill

Published April 25, 2013

Associated Press

WASHINGTON –  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says senators have reached a deal to delay voting on a bill to tax Internet sales until after senators return from a weeklong vacation.

Reid says the Senate vote on passage of the bill would be May 6.

A handful of senators from states without sales taxes were blocking the bill, which has widespread bipartisan support in the Senate.

The bill would empower states to require online retailers to collect state and local sales taxes for purchases made over the Internet. Under the bill, the sales taxes would be sent to the states where a shopper lives.

View the original article here

Customs and Border Protection delays agent furloughs amid 're-examination' of plan

Published April 01, 2013

FoxNews.com

• 

  FILE: Feb. 15, 2012: A border patrol vehicle observes border fencing in Douglas, Ariz.Reuters

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said Monday it will delay furloughs and the elimination of planned overtime, after announcing last week it would implement such cuts to deal with sequester -- the roughly $85.4 billion in mandatory federal budget reductions this year across all government agencies.  

The border agency said the cuts will be delayed “pending re-examination,” following concerns from Congress and at least one border agent union about potential safety and security lapses.

Deputy Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski told employees in a letter Monday that the temporary spending bill President Obama signed last week that funds the federal government over the next six months allows the agency to “mitigate to some degree” the sequester's impact.

However, sources told Fox News a recent surge in illegal border crossings contributed to the re-examination, as the Senate nears a final proposal on immigration reform that hinges on secure borders.

Still, the agency must find ways to cover a $250 million shortfall this year as a result of the sequester.

Congress agreed in 2011 on the mandatory, across-the-board cuts this year as leverage to get the two sides to agree on a less drastic approach to reducing the federal budget. But the two sides failed to reach a follow-up agreement before the March 1 deadline. The cuts equal roughly $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years should Congress allow them to continue.

View the original article here

Fans outraged as Taco Bell delays Cool Ranch Doritos tacos

NEW YORK –  Some Taco Bell fans are angry after a delay in the launch of new tacos made with Cool Ranch Doritos shells.

The fast-food chain had announced this week that it would release its highly-anticipated Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos on Wednesday, a day earlier than planned. But then some fans began posting on the chain's Facebook page complaining their local restaurants didn't have them yet. They said they were told by local employees that the tacos wouldn't be available until Thursday.

"VERY disappointed!" one fan wrote. "Boo to you," wrote another. One fan posted a letter to the chain online, detailing how he and a friend made a trip to their local Taco Bell after midnight Wednesday to get their first taste of the new tacos. He said they ended up getting the regular Doritos Locos Tacos because they were "basically committed anyway."

Taco Bell, which is owned by Yum Brands Inc. of Louisville, Ky., apologized in a statement. A spokeswoman noted that the early launch was at participating restaurants but noted the complaints could be fairly isolated issues. She said customers should call ahead to verify their locations had the tacos.

Meanwhile, other posts on Taco Bell's Facebook page mocked those who were complaining. "Oh my god all of you shut up, it's just a taco," one person wrote.

Taco Bell introduced its Doritos Locos Tacos in Nachos Cheese flavor a year ago. CEO Greg Creed has said the tacos have been a runaway hit, accounting for about a quarter of all taco sales. The chain plans to keep rolling out new flavors, including a spicy "Flamas" flavor later this year.

View the original article here