Conservative push to impeach IRS chief; effort won't succeed

WASHINGTON -- A campaign-season drive by conservative House Republicans to impeach the IRS commissioner won't succeed.

With solid Democratic opposition and resistance from many in the GOP, there aren't enough votes to oust John Koskinen from his post.

Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus are pushing it anyway, and it could come to a head over the next week or two. A look at the effort:

Q: Why do conservatives want to impeach Koskinen?

A: They accuse him of lying to Congress, not answering subpoenas and overseeing an agency that destroyed documents. They say those actions hindered the House GOP's investigation of how the Internal Revenue Service unfairly treated tea-party groups that sought tax exemptions before Koskinen was with the agency.

Two months to the election, going after Koskinen and the IRS is popular with many conservative voters, for whom the IRS has been a dirty word. They've not forgiven its handling of tea-party groups. And Koskinen was appointed by President Barack Obama, another conservative target.

Q: What do Koskinen and Democrats say?

A: They say the accusations are unfounded. While the IRS acknowledged it subjected tea-party groups to unfair treatment, the Justice Department and the IRS inspector general found no evidence the agency was motivated by political bias, and it's not been proved documents were destroyed on purpose.

Democrats say the effort is aimed at stirring up conservative votes and campaign donations.

Koskinen's term runs until Nov. 12, 2017. He's said he considers himself to serve at the pleasure of the president -- which suggests he'd leave if a president asked.

Q: What do other Republicans think of impeaching Koskinen?

A: Not much. Congressional GOP leaders have shown little passion for it and noted it divides their party. House Republicans meet Thursday to discuss it.

The reason for GOP discomfort: Support impeachment, and they could lose moderate voters who view impeachment as partisan, excessive and don't care much about Koskinen. Oppose it, and they could alienate conservatives. Why force that choice on themselves two months before elections?

"That sort of action would not be helpful at this point in the campaign," said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.

Some prefer to send the effort to the House Judiciary Committee -- punting it until after the elections.

Q: Why don't House GOP leaders simply block the vote?

A: The proposal's sponsors introduced it under a procedure that requires a House vote within two days of calling it up on the House floor. Besides, Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who's taken a neutral public stance, doesn't want to anger conservatives whose support he'll need to be re-elected to the speakership next January should the GOP retain House control.

Some conservatives say they'll wait until after Thursday's GOP meeting before forcing a vote. Others say they could call it up Tuesday for a vote later in the week.

Motions could be made to kill, postpone, or sidetrack the measure to a House committee.

Its House fate is unclear. But should it pass the House and clear other procedural votes, Senate GOP leaders could face their own decisions about handling a proposal that ultimately is going nowhere.

One possibility -- the Senate could adjourn for the elections before receiving the measure from the House, leaving it in limbo.