Nonprofit Lobbying Rights

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...

read in full

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...

read in full

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...

read in full

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...

read in full

more news

Reform Bill Sent to President and is Expected to Sign

Sep 6, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The lobbying and ethics reform bill, S.1, was finally sent to President Bush Sept. 4, and Bush is expected to sign the measure into law early next week. This comes after the bill was withheld from the president out of concern of a possible veto. The president reportedly has concerns over the earmark provisions and the revolving door provisions.

read in full

FEC Issues Proposed Rulemaking on Electioneering Communications

Aug 24, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) issued a proposed rulemaking, which will be published in the Federal Register next week, to implement the Supreme Court decision in Wisconsin Right to Life v. FEC (WRTL). The FEC has put forth two alternative proposals and seeks comments on many questions; asking, "Does WRTL II require the Commission to revise or repeal any portion of its definition of express advocacy?" Both alternatives would establish safe harbors for grassroots lobbying communications based on the analysis of the specific ads at issue in the WRTL case.

read in full

Right to Protest?

Aug 22, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

In June the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released the October 2002 "Presidential Advance Manual" which outlines instructions for staff to deter potential protestors from President Bush's public appearances. The Washington Post is just now reporting on the manual the ACLU obtained as part of a lawsuit filed on behalf of two people arrested for refusing to cover their anti-Bush T-shirts at a Fourth of July speech.

read in full

"Translating a Ruling Into New Limits for Issue Ads"

Aug 22, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

As reported last month, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) plans to issue a proposed regulation some time in August in light of the June Supreme Court ruling in the Wisconsin Right to Life case. The Washington Post now discusses the intricacies of doing so. The FEC is likely to use the Court's opinion as a guide to make clear when an ad is permitted issue advocacy, and when an ad crosses the line into electioneering. The article discusses a debate that has unfolded between two election law specialists, Robert Bauer and Richard Hasen.

read in full

Just Kidding - Bush Will Probably Sign Reform Bill Into Law

Aug 21, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

BNA Money and Politics ($$) now reports that President Bush is expected to sign the lobbying and ethics reform bill, S.1. "The officials, who asked not to be identified, told BNA that Bush still believes the measure is 'far from perfect,' but he is not likely to veto it when congressional Democratic leaders send him the measure in September.

read in full

Possible Veto of Lobbying and Ethics Bill??

Aug 9, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

According to BNA Money and Politics ($$) the lobbying and ethics bill, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, is being further delayed until September because of concerns that President Bush may veto it. Your reaction may now be excuse me, a veto, after all this time? According to the article, a White House spokeswoman said the White House is reviewing the bill and there are some concerns with the provisions on earmarks, the revolving door, and the higher payments for air travel by federal officeholders and candidates.

read in full

Press Coverage of OMB Watch Panel

Aug 7, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The Friday Aug. 3 OMB Watch panel on the pros and cons of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) bright line rule for campaign activities for charities and religious organizations has gained some press attention. From BNA Money and Politics: ($$)

read in full

Ethics and Lobbying Reform: Real World Changes?

Aug 7, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Well now that the lobbying and ethics bill is awaiting the President's signature, many are now asking how much the legislation will actually change the way business is done. An article from today's Washington Post is appropriately titled, "Draining the 'Swamp' Is Not So Easy." For example, now that lobbyists can't buy dinner for a member of Congress, will this only force them to spend more money at political fundraisers instead?

read in full

Bush & Lobby/Ethics Reform -- See:Yellowcake File

Aug 3, 2007 by Dana Chasin

Some people regard the lobbying and ethics bill passed by Congress yesterday as the most significant congressional reform measure adopted in years. Bloomberg reported yesterday that "The U.S. Senate passed legislation that lawmakers said will provide the most sweeping changes in ethics rules in a generation."

read in full

Lobbying/Ethics Bill Passes: Earmarks and the Unthinkable

Aug 2, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

This afternoon, the Senate passed the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007, by a vote of 83-14. Among the significant reforms included in the bill are the following earmarks disclosure requirements:

all earmarks in bills, resolutions, conference reports and managers' statements must be identified and posted on the internet at least 48 hours before a vote
Senators must certify that they and their immediate family will not financially benefit from any earmarks they've requested

read in full