According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Internal Revenue Service has asked nonprofit groups and others to comment on how the agency should enforce a law Congress passed last month to impose steep fines on charities, churches, and other tax-exempt groups that participate in abusive tax shelters.

Interesting article in US News: "It creates a huge conflict of interest for the members of Congress," says Alex Knott of the Center for Public Integrity. "They are going to be indentured to these lobbyists because they often rely on them for campaign fundraising." Lobbyists have served as treasurers of at least 68 campaign committees or joint campaign committees with other members since 1998, according to the center. It's unclear whether the number is increasing because reform groups have just started to track these relationships.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro has revised his proposal to make hospitals and other charitable groups more accountable to the public, a month after proposing the new state rules. In the second draft of the rules, released Friday, Petro dropped controversial recommendations for policies related to conflicts of interest, executive compensation and billing practices. Instead, said Brian Cook, chief deputy attorney general and head of the public-protection division, the latest proposal calls for a new advisory panel to recommend such model policies.

Tax Debt: Some Combined Federal Campaign Charities Owe Payroll and Other Federal Taxes. GAO-06-887, July 28 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d06887high.pdf