Hastings Votes to Hold Lerner in Contempt of Congress

A U.S. House committee voted today to hold Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress, as Republicans escalated their bid to "get to the bottom" of the former IRS official's role in the political targeting scandal. Fourth District Congressman Doc Hastings is on the House Oversight Committee and voted with the majority. The vote 21-12 to hold Lerner in contempt. The party-line vote followed hours of heated debate on the  committee. "The next step is to take it the House floor. As Chairman Issa said in the committee, all of this can be taken care of if she would agree to testify so we can ask questions and try to get information."

The contempt measure heads next to the House floor.  House Speaker John Boehner predicted earlier this week that unless Lerner agrees to cooperate, the full House will support contempt -- from there, the case would likely head to the courts.

All of the Republicans voted for the contempt measure, all of the Democrats voted against it.