The Region - News from Jan. 30, 1985

Claiming that the Internal Revenue Service routinely investigates individuals and groups because of their religious and political affiliations, former Congressman George V. Hansen (R-Idaho) and the Church of Scientology announced in Los Angeles the formation of a coalition to uncover alleged corruption in the IRS. A longtime critic of the agency, Hansen said he supports the church’s coalition because the IRS has changed from an agency of service to one of control of the public. Hansen said he hopes that the coalition will draw attention to IRS abuses, force legislation to regulate the agency and protect the civil and private rights of citizens. Hansen was convicted last April of failing to disclose $334,000 in loans and profits received from 1978 to 1981. He lost his bid for reelection to an eighth term in Congress last November.