Protecting Nonprofit Rights | Center for Effective Government

August 31, 2009 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol. 1, Issue 16
Featured articles and blog commentaries (click on headline to read full article)
1. Charity's 4th and 5th Amendments Violated By Treasury’s Unchecked Investigative Powers
2. Appeals Court Declines to Rule on Constitutionality of Presidential Power to Close Charities
3. NGOs Raise Concerns about USAID's Proposed Vetting Policy for Contractors
4. Comparison of Proposed USAID Partner Vetting System for NGOs and Contractors
5. This Ramadan, Give Without Fear (But Give Wisely) by Mazen Asbahi, Esq.
6. KindHearts Decision Opens Door to reform

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Forged Letter Scandal Highlights Need for Greater Disclosure

In June, Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) received a letter that was supposedly authored by Creciendo Juntos, a nonprofit group in his district. The letter urged him to oppose the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a bill designed to combat climate change. Perriello's office also received similar letters on letterhead from the local NAACP chapter. These letters turned out to be fake; they were sent by a lobbying firm hired by a trade group representing coal producers and power companies. Government ethics and transparency watchdog organizations responded, saying that using forged letters as part of a lobbying campaign is outrageous misconduct that harms the legislative process and highlights the need for increased disclosure.

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August 17, 2009 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol. 1, Issue 15
Featured articles and blog commentaries (click on headline to read full article)
1. Senate Committee Says USAID Must Reconsider Proposed Vetting System
2. Report- Overdue Process: Protecting Human Rights while Sanctioning Alleged Terrorists
3. National Security Advisor Stresses Need to Address Drivers of Violent Extremism

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July 31, 2009 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol. 1, Issue 14
Feature articles and blog commentaries (click on headline to read full article)

1. Fusion Center Analyst “Caught” Spying on Peace Protestors
2. Court Rules Government Must Demonstrate Scholar Knowingly Supported Terrorism
3. Charitable Work Promotes Our National Security
4. Americans Support a Foreign Policy that Targets Terrorism's Roots
5. Saudis No Example for Rules on Charities
6. Threats to Civil Society in the U.S. from Government Restrictions on Nonprofits

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Advocates Say New Recovery Act Lobbying Guidance Doesn’t Go Far Enough

On July 24, Peter Orszag, the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), released further guidance that amends restrictions on lobbying for Recovery Act funds. The document states that it is meant "to supersede all prior written OMB and other agency guidance on the subject." Despite the adjustments within the guidance, which advocates note is a significant step in the right direction, many say the changes do not go far enough to prompt disclosure of all lobbying and other contacts associated with Recovery Act spending.

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Senate Set to Lift Legal Services Corporation Restrictions

On June 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill that increases funding for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in FY 2010 and drops some speech restrictions on legal aid grant recipients that have been in place since 1996. The Senate version of the bill increases legal aid services by $10 million over FY 2009 levels, but it contains $35 million less than the Obama administration's request. The House version of the bill has $40 million more than the Senate version, but it continues a number of speech restrictions dropped by the Senate bill.

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July 15, 2009 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol. 1, Issue 13
Featured Stories (click on headline to read full article):
1. Experts Describe Tensions Between U.S. Laws and Providing Humanitarian Assistance
2. DOJ Asks Supreme Court to Hear Case on Definitions of "Material Support" of Terrorism
3. Inspectors General Release Report on Secret Surveillance Programs
4. Group of Nonprofits Seek Meeting with Obama Administration on New Rules for Charities

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Advocacy Groups File Suit over Violations of Voter Registration Law

A coalition of voting rights groups has filed lawsuits against two states, Indiana and New Mexico, for failing to adequately implement a section of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), commonly known as the Motor Voter law. The groups charge that the states' public assistance agencies and motor vehicle offices have not met their responsibilities to offer residents the opportunity to register to vote.

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Another Example of Dissent Being Equated With Terrorism

A question on a Department of Defense (DoD) training exam states that the exercise of First Amendment rights in the U.S. is an "example of low level terrorism". New DoD employees are being trained to select "Protests" as the answer to a question about identifying an act of terror. This is one of several examples of when dissent and protest is being equated with terrorism. Civil liberty advocates, like the ACLU, and political activists, are outraged at these "deeply disturbing" assertions.

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USAID Seeks Comments on Expanding PVS to Contractors

On Friday May 26 USAID published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments on implementation of its problematic Partner Vetting System for acquisition awards. Comments are due August 25th. The notice notes that the final rule for NGOs has been delayed and that USAID "has not yet made a final decision on whether to implement PVS."

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