The Internal Revenue Service and the 2010 health law? Look out, says Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

"Here’s another thing we shouldn’t be doing: handing over the administration of Obamacare to these folks. I mean, think about it. A deeply unpopular law being administered by an agency that’s so betrayed the public trust," he said in Senate floor remarks Thursday. 

“Even the IRS’ staunchest defenders in this scandal describe their actions as a case of ‘horrible customer service.’   That’s the best they can say: ‘Horrible customer service.’ And now they’re going to be put in charge of a new trillion-dollar program?  One that will give them access to all sorts of sensitive, deeply personal information?"

McConnell, R-Ky., warned "that’s just what the Administration and congressional Democrats are about to let happen."

He noted "The IRS is in charge of administering some of the most important elements of Obamacare. And, for many Americans, that’s going to mean submitting to probing questions about their health insurance."

Then he posed some questions. Here's some of the rest of his speech:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. on Friday called for the White House to conduct a "transparent, government-wide review" after the IRS admitted that they scrutinized conservative groups during the 2012 election. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, the Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus and others quickly followed.

“Today’s acknowledgement by the Obama administration that the IRS did in fact target conservative groups in the heat of last year’s national election is not enough," McConnell said. "Today, I call on the White House to conduct a transparent, government-wide review aimed at assuring the American people that these thuggish practices are not underway at the IRS or elsewhere in the administration against anyone, regardless of their political views."

“The admission by the Obama administration that the Internal Revenue Service targeted political opponents echoes some of the most shameful abuses of government power in 20th-century American history," Boehner said. 

The IRS apologized for focusing on tea party groups during the camaign, but denied any political motive.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's camp branded as "deplorable" an ad from a liberal group tying McConnell to an al-Qaeda video.

CNN said the video is in error because it is against the law to buy a fully automatic weapon in the United States unless the buyer is a strictly licensed and regulated federal firearms dealer with special permission.

Jack Brammer of the Herald-Leader writes:

"McConnell re-election campaign spokesman Jesse Benton called the ad "deplorable" and labeled it as another attack from a liberal group like the one apparently involved in a secret recording of a McConnell campaign strategy session in February.

"These rabid partisan extremists have no interest in promoting what's right for Kentucky, and they'll stop at nothing to attack its biggest advocate," Benton said.

"He said that Progress Kentucky, an independent super PAC, attacked the ethnicity of McConnell's wife, former U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, earlier this year and is linked to the Feb. 2 secret taping of a McConnell campaign strategy session that the FBI is investigating.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is the target of a new ad that features a terrorist video advising people how to obtain guns.

McConnell, R-Ky., is up for re-election next year. He has been a consistent critic of tougher gun control laws.

The ad, which CNN says is being run by a liberal group, says, "Most Kentucky residents want background checks for gun sales, but Republican leader Mitch McConnell is against them. So who does agree with Mitch?"

The terrorist piece shows American-born  Adam Yahiye Gadahn saying “You can go down to a gun show at the local convention center and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle, without a background check, and most likely without having to show an identification card. So what are you waiting for?"

The narrator then urges viewers, "Call Mitch McConnell. Ask him why he's in such bad company."

CNN notes it is illegal to buy a "a fully automatic weapon in the U.S by anyone but a strictly licensed and regulated federal firearms dealer with special permission. However, other types of guns can be sold at gun shows or through private sales without a background check, a fact some lawmakers want to change."

To view the ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jtUC73gfis&feature=youtu.be

The FBI has been asked to look into whether Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's headquarters was bugged.

The Kentucky Republican and his aides were found to have discussed strategy against potential rival Ashley Judd, tactics that included questioning the actress' mental health, according to a report in Mother Jones magazine.

Judd decided not to seek McConnell's seat, which is up next year. According to the magazine, aides laugh about Judd, questioning her political views and bouts with depression.

McConnell, talking to reporters in Washington Tuesday, called the possible bugging "a quite Nixonian move," a reference to the Republican president's Watereage-era eavesdropping.

"This is what you get from the political left in America these days," McConnell said.

But he would not answer questions whether it was proper to be questioning Judd's mental health.

"They kept attacking my wife's ethnicity and apparently also bugging my headquarters," McConnell repeated three times when asked the question.

Last month, a liberal group was critical of the Chinese ancestry of McConnell's wife, former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.

In the McConnell campaign office incident, AP also reported an aide charging Judd is "clearly sort of anti-sort-of-traditional American family. ... She described having children as selfish, and she thinks it's unconscionable to breed. So you put that with what we'll talk to you later about -- her sort of pro-choice stance -- and it's sort of a, you know, pretty extreme posture to take."

As the NCAA men's basketball tournament prepares to resume Thursday, Democrats are launching a new ad blasting Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who faces re-election next year in Kentucky.

The 60 second radio spot, will air until April 3, features play-by-play during a basketball game "to describe how far Mitch McConnell goes to score for Washington special interests and himself while blocking economic policies that would help Kentucky"

The key point is that McConnell is too tied to Washingtonn.

“Kentuckians know that Mitch McConnell is playing for ‘Team Washington’ and not for Kentucky, and the DSCC is committed to holding Senator McConnell accountable," said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Executive Director Guy Cecil in a statement.

“Mitch McConnell is the walking, talking embodiment of everything that’s wrong with Washington D.C. He has helped send Kentucky jobs overseas and blocked job training for Kentucky workers. No wonder Mitch McConnell is the nation’s least popular Senator. Kentuckians deserve a leader who fights for them, not the Washington special interests.”

McConnell, first elected to the Senate in 1984, has launched his own vigorous re-election campaign highlighting his long record of working for state interests.

About an hour after the Senate finally passed a Democratic-authored budget, Republicans were ready with a blistering response.

The Senate passed the budget 50-49 shortly before 5 a.m., after slogging through non-stop votes on amendments for 13 hours. An hour later, the Republican weekly address was posted (it was recorded in advance).

Here's what Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, had to say:

"For the first time in four years, Senate Democrats have produced a budget, yet unfortunately their spending blueprint grows the government, not the economy..."

"By contrast, the budget Republicans passed in the House of Representatives this week reduces spending and debt and balances in 10 years. “Budgets are economic documents, but they’re much more than that. Budgets reflect the moral choices we make as a nation and shape the kind of society we will build for the future."

To see more: http://www.youtube.com/user/gopweeklyaddress

Congressional leaders have arrived at the White House for an Oval Office meeting with President Obama and vice president Joe Biden aimed at discussing -- though probably not averting -- $85 billion in budget cuts that are poised to take effect if lawmakers don't reach an 11th hour agreement.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner and  Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi arrived via black SUVs; Biden arrived via motorcade. A White House official said the meeting officially kicked off at 10:18 a.m.

An agreement seems increasingly unlikely, though Obama said Thursday after two partisan attempts at avoidance failed Thursday that he'd "bring together leaders from both parties to discuss a path forward."

Without an agreement, Obama at some point today will be required to "order" the Office of Management and Budget to cut the cuts started.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is making it clear before he meets with President Barack Obama later Friday: No "last minute, back room deal" and no tax increases.

Here's the statement he released a few minutes ago:

“We promised the American people that we would cut Washington spending, and the President signed those cuts into law. Republicans have offered the President numerous solutions, including the flexibility he needs to secure those reductions more intelligently. I’m happy to discuss other ideas to keep our commitment to reducing Washington spending at today’s meeting.But there will be no last-minute, back-room deal and absolutely no agreement to increase taxes.” 

Senate Republican Leader will meet with President Barack Obama Friday, but Wednesday, he was his usual fiery self, giving a Senate floor speech that blasted away.

“For months now, I’ve been coming to the floor to urge my colleagues on the other side to help us replace the President’s sequester proposal," the Kentucky Republican said. “Yet here we are, with just two days to go until the cuts hit, and the Democrats who control Washington still haven’t put forward a serious bipartisan plan; not the President and not his allies in Congress.

"They’ve preferred to keep it alive as a political issue instead," he said.  “Now, less than 48 hours before the clock runs out, all they’ve offered is a gimmicky tax hike that’s designed to fail. I hope they’re not expecting a round of applause for this particular act of political bravery."

“Is it any wonder the American people are so fed up with Washington? McConnell asked. “Look: the American people didn’t send us here to play games. They sent us here to solve problems. That means getting spending under control and putting the economy back on track. They’re tired of the gimmicks."

To read the rest of his speech: