Is the GOP setting its sights on AARP?

In what Democrats are calling a politically motivated move, three Republican congressmen are seeking an investigation to determine if AARP should be stripped of its tax-exempt status. From Foxbusiness.com: Three Republican congressmen are asking the IRS to investigate whether AARP, the powerful senior lobby and health care reform supporter, should be stripped of its tax-exempt status. At issue is whether there’s a conflict of interest between the group’s mission to advocate for seniors and the money it makes from endorsing insurance products.
As a result of provisions in the health care reform law, AARP stands to make an additional $1 billion through royalties on insurance products branded with the organization’s name over the next 10 years, according to a 29-page report released March 30 by Republican members of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. [SNIP] Democrats said the report was politically motivated, noting that Republicans lauded AARP’s endorsement of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, which created a private Medicare drug benefit. “But now, since AARP worked to help enact health reform and will surely oppose Republican plans to convert Medicare to a voucher, privatize Social Security and block grant Medicaid, Republicans want to bring them down,” said Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Pete Stark of California in a statement.]]>