Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity

Feb 8, 2016

Top 400 Taxpayers See Tax Rates Rise, But There’s More to the Story

As Americans were gathering party supplies to greet the New Year, the Internal Revenue Service released their annual report of cumulative tax data reported on the 400 tax r...

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Feb 4, 2016

Chlorine Bleach Plants Needlessly Endanger 63 Million Americans

Chlorine bleach plants across the U.S. put millions of Americans in danger of a chlorine gas release, a substance so toxic it has been used as a chemical weapon. Greenpeace’s new repo...

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Jan 25, 2016

U.S. Industrial Facilities Reported Fewer Toxic Releases in 2014

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2014 is now available. The good news: total toxic releases by reporting facilities decreased by nearly six percent from 2013 levels. Howe...

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Jan 22, 2016

Methane Causes Climate Change. Here's How the President Plans to Cut Emissions by 40-45 Percent.

UPDATE (Jan. 22, 2016): Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed rule to reduce methane emissions...

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Myth v. Fact: The Impact of Federal Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure in S. 1

In a Dec. 30, 2006 letter to Public Citizen, American Target Advertising, Inc. explains its opposition to legislation that would require disclosure of big money grassroots lobbying campaigns on federal legislation (S.1 ). The letter gives some examples that misstate what the bill would do and are contrary to the stated intentions of the bill's sponsors. To reduce the confusion we have provided alternative answers to the hypothetical questions American Target Advertising (ATA) poses in its letter. Updated Jan. 18, 2007: More Myths and Facts

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CREW Cannot Sue FEC Over Enforcement Complaint

Jan 16, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

BNA Money and Politics (subscription required) reported that on January 12 a federal appeals court ruled that the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) did not have the needed legal standing to sue the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The FEC found that Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) improperly provided a contact list to the President Bush's re-election campaign. CREW then filed an enforcement complaint against the FEC, arguing that the list was worth more than the FEC considered.

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Supreme Court Hears Union Fees Case

Jan 11, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Yesterday the Supreme Court heard in a single argument combining Davenport v. Washington Education Association, and Washington v. Washington Education Association. At issue in this case is whether a union can use mandatory dues for political purposes without first getting the teacher's permission. As reported in BNA; "A Washington campaign finance law requiring unions to obtain individual nonmembers' consent to use their agency fees for political purposes does not violate unions' First Amendment rights, Washington Attorney General Robert M. McKenna and Solicitor General Paul D.

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Campaign Finance Not Considered for Senate Ethics Reform

Jan 11, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

While still debating and crafting amendments to S.1, some lawmakers are trying to use the opportunity to attach campaign finance issues to the ethics and lobbying bill. However, Democratic leaders have decided in order to pass the strongest bill as quickly as possible, campaign finance matters must be delayed. One such attempt was Senator Feingold's introduction of S.223, for mandatory electronic campaign filing. Despite being a necessary and seemingly uncontroversial item, it remains to be ungermane.

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Nonprofits: Applying for Grants Online

Jan 4, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

For those interested in learning how to apply for grants online, and for those unfamiliar with grants.gov, there will be a valuable web training. To register visit www.ngma.org. Beginning the day of the training the webcast will be available anytime online.

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Violence Against Aid Workers

Jan 4, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Reuters reports that aid worker violence reached a high in 2006 with 90 major incidences. Over 40 percent took place in Sudan. The article addresses the need for non-governmental organizations to be recognized as neutral and impartial, regardless of skin color. "It's not just that aid workers are associated with political actors; they are political actors. In conflict situations, attacking them is seen as an effective way of controlling the local population."

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House Lobbying and Ethics Proposals Formally Announced

Dec 15, 2006 by Amanda Adams*

The House ethics proposals were announced yesterday and incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reaffirmed promises of reform. The proposals included the creation of a panel within the Appropriations Committee that will oversee intelligence agencies and a House task force to consider establishing an outside ethics panel.

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Leahy Pledges Oversight of Privacy and Human Rights Issues

Dec 15, 2006 by Amanda Adams*

As previously reported, the new chairman of the Judiciary Committee Senator Leahy plans to increase oversight of government programs, placing a high priority on privacy issues. BNA Money and Politics (subscription required) reported on Leahy's speech at Georgetown University Law Center. There are also plans to create a Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. Leahy was quoted in The New York Times saying, "the White House accelerated its power plays at the expense of the other branches of government — all in the name of fighting terrorism."

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New FAQs On Exempt Groups

Dec 8, 2006 by Amanda Adams*

On December 5, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released a new set of frequently asked questions for exempt organizations. The FAQs include answers such as where complaints about the activities/operations of tax-exempt organizations should be sent and whether contributions are deductible while an organization's application for tax exemption is pending. The new FAQs are available here.

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Plans to Probe Privacy Issues

Dec 7, 2006 by Amanda Adams*

This New York Times article reports that Democratic leaders want to conduct increased oversight of counterterrorism programs, including wiretapping and data-mining programs. Senator Leahy made this opinion clear during a hearing yesterday questioning Robert S. Mueller III, director of the FBI. These investigatory plans are very encouraging.

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