In The News

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Ottawa County Patriots president Jim Chiodo was on Capitol Hill Thursday meeting with other tea party members and congressional representatives. He was invited to the event to share his story about what he calls harassment by the IRS. He says he applied with the IRS for 501-c3 status in 2011 to qualify as a non-profit organization. But it still hasn't gone through and he says the IRS has only put up roadblocks. "90 days went by, another 90 days went by, we began calling again, we called, we didn't get an answer, didn't get through no one returned our calls," says Chiodo. Officials have said conservative tea party groups across the country were targeted by the IRS for heightened scrutiny when applying for non-profit status. Thursday some congress members met with those groups and held a news conference offering their support. Chiodo says some chapters are considering suing the IRS. President Obama has said he was unaware of what the IRS was doing but Chiodo says he's not convinced. "I believe the message President Obama has given to every agency is win at whatever cost, attack, do whatever you have to do to fight these bad tea party and conservative groups," says Chiodo. Representative Bill Huizenga was also there at the meeting and news conference Thursday, he says this is an example of government run amok and called for a full investigation. Chiodo says he is going to work with Huizenga to try to finally get his non-profit status.