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...

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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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Will FEC Decide on Grassroots Lobbying Exemption Based on Partisan Considerations?

Aug 22, 2006 by Kay Guinane

Next week the Federal Election Commission will decide on a proposal to exempt grassroots lobbying from campaign finance rules imposing a blackout period on broadcasts that mention federal candidates within 60 days of an election or 30 days of a primary. The Cato Institute's John Samples notes "In votes on matters of procedure, the FEC sometimes splits along party lines. In this case, partisan concerns are irrelevant. As the examples of the WRTL and ACLU show, the benefits of freeing up grassroots lobbying will fall across the political spectrum."

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FEC to Consider Rule Protecting Grassroots Lobbying Broadcasts

Aug 21, 2006 by Kay Guinane

Election law attorneys Bob Bauer and Larry Gold's oped in Roll Call (paid subscription required), begins:

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Check Out the New House Lobby Disclosure Website

Aug 9, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Check out the new House website for lobby disclosure.

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Wertheimer and Potter Already Attacking Proposed Grassroots Exemption

Aug 7, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From Roll Call: Trevor Potter, a former FEC chairman who is now president and general counsel for the Campaign Legal Center, charged that the proposal was a backdoor attempt by opponents of the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act “to reopen the issue ad loophole” closed by that legislation. “This is the same coalition that opposed the passage of BCRA,” Potter said. What von Spakovsky say to that?

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FEC Posts Proposed Interim Rule on Electioneering Communications Rule

Aug 3, 2006 by Guest Blogger

The Interim Final Rule can be found here. It will be considered at the FEC's August 29 open meeting.

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Frist Says Senate GSE Bill Unlikely to Get Floor Time

Aug 2, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From Congress Daily:

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Committee Discussion Urges Movement on Senate GSE Bill

Aug 2, 2006 by Guest Blogger

A morning Senate Banking committee meeting over a credit rating bill, the talk began with moving along S. 190, Sen. Shelby's bill to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. [Sen. Hagel] said the Senate should act on Shelby’s bill (S 190) to overhaul regulation of Fannie and Freddie. That measure was approved by the panel along party lines last summer and has been stalled since. Panel members seemed more optimistic Wednesday that some kind of a compromise could be reached on that bill in time for Senate passage in September.

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Decision By Fannie, Freddie, May Spur Legislation

Aug 2, 2006 by Guest Blogger

CQ is reporting that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's plans to limit its investment portfolio could mean that S. 190, a bill overhauling regulation of that company and Fannie Mae this year. Unlikely with the Senate's packed schedule, nonprofit advocates can breathe a little easier for the moment - the anti-advocacy language contained in the House passed bill (see www.ombwatch.org/gseresourcecenter) is not currently within the Senate version.

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Comparing the Teeth on Lobby Reform Bills

Jul 28, 2006 by Guest Blogger

The Campaign Legal Center has posted a blog entry comparing the lobby reform bills passed by Congress and the recently introduced Shays-Meehan legislation. Check it out.

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Earmark Reform on the Plate?

Jul 28, 2006 by Guest Blogger

According to BNA: With the House and Senate at a stalemate over a broad lobbying reform bill (H.R. 4975, S. 2349) the House will consider comprehensive earmark reform in September as part of a package to change House rules.

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