Nonprofit Speech Rights

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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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New Study on Congress and Advocacy

Jul 12, 2005 by Guest Blogger

WASHINGTON - July 11 - Online communications tools have contributed to a surge in new communications to Congress -- 200 million in 2004, up from 50 million in 1995 -- according to a new study by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF). Of those 200 million messages sent to Congress last year by the public, 91 percent, or 182 million, were sent online, while only 9 percent, or 18 million, were sent by postal mail. Despite the increase in communications, the report's survey research of House and Senate staff show they believe that the Internet and e-mail have had a positive effect on the democratic process. For example, 79 percent believe the Internet has made it easier for a citizen to get involved in the public policy process; 55 percent believe it has increased public understand of what goes on in Washington; while 48 percent (a plurality) believe it has made Members more responsive to their constituents. Check out the report!

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CA Nat'l Guard Investigated for Surveillance of Peace Activists

On June 26 the San Jose Mercury News published email correspondences between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's press office and senior California National Guard officials that detail surveillance of a Mother's Day peace rally sponsored by three organizations. Separate investigations have been launched by a California state legislator and federal officials, and public reaction has been strongly negative, with comparisons to domestic spying targeted at anti-war and civil rights groups during the Vietnam era.

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FEC Holds Hearing on Regulation of Internet Communications

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) held a two-day public hearing in late June to consider comments on its proposed regulation of Internet communications about federal elections. The testimony focused on the role of bloggers and whether they should be required to post disclaimers notifying readers if they receive funds from a candidate or campaign. OMB Watch's testimony focused on the Internet's importance to civic participation and government accountability and urged a minimal approach to regulation. No date for publication of the final rule has been set.

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Update on 527 bills

Two campaign finance bills, one that would allow more contributions to political parties and the other to restrict contributions to 527 organizations, are headed for a vote in the House. One bill has implications for charities that wish to make issue advocacy communications that mention federal candidates during election season.

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GOP Attempt to Intimidate Religious Leader Highlights Broader Problems with Issue Advocacy in Church

On May 9, the Rev. Lisa Doege, of the First Unitarian Church of South Bend, IN, received a phone call from an Indiana State Representative, who warned her that a church program she had planned might threaten her church's tax-exempt status. Representative Luke Messner (R- Shelbyville) warned Doege against an upcoming program on Social Security, raising once more the issue of the role religious institutions have to play in the public sphere and in issue advocacy.

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Are C4s Next?

Jul 11, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The freedom of speech enjoyed by C4s may be the next thing under attack. An artice on Bloomberg.com jumps to the conclusion that the money currently being given to 527 organizations will pour into C4s - and is already resulting in the reformation of numerous 527s into C4s. Check it out for yourself.

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Shays-Meehan Reported Out of Cmte

Jun 30, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The House Administration Committee approved legislation June 29 that aims to rein in so-called Section 527 political organizations (H.R. 513). The committee approved the bill with a 5-3 party line vote after approving a substitute amendment by the same vote. The committee reported out the measure without recommendation. The Shays-Meehan legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) and Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) would seek to impose contribution limits on Section 527 groups now claiming exemption from such limits. For more information. (Subscription required)

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Ney Mandates E-Filing of Lobby Reports

Jun 30, 2005 by Guest Blogger

FYI - Rep. Bob Ney, Chairman of the House Committee on House Administration, has instructed the Clerk of the House of Representatives to only accept electronically filed lobbying reports starting in 2006. Chairman Ney also instructed the Clerk to develop an electronic filing system for Representatives to use in filing privately paid travel forms, expenditures for official foreign travel, and contributions in lieu of honoraria. Those systems should be fully deployed by the end of 2005.

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Clashing 527 Bills Moving in the House

On June 23, Rep. Robert Ney (R-OH), chair of the House Administration Committee, sent a letter to Reps. Martin Meehan (D-MA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) informing them he intends to schedule their proposed legislation, H.R. 513, the 527 Reform Act, for committee consideration. Ney also said that, although he supports a competing 527 bill, he will vote to send the Shays-Meehan proposal to the floor.

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Scam by Lobbyists Could Have Negative Consequences for Legitimate Nonprofits

A June 22 hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee revealed details of a scam by lobbyists Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon to pocket millions of dollars in donations to nonprofit groups they controlled or on whose board they sat. They used these groups as intermediaries, with subgrants going to other nonprofits and consulting firms they controlled, and ultimately into their pockets.

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Resources & Research

Living in the Shadow of Danger: Poverty, Race, and Unequal Chemical Facility Hazards

People of color and people living in poverty, especially poor children of color, are significantly more likely...

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A Tale of Two Retirements: One for CEOs and One for the Rest of Us

The 100 largest CEO retirement funds are worth a combined $4.9 billion, equal to the entire retirement account savings of 41 percent of American fam...

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Blowing Smoke: Chemical Companies Say “Trust Us,” But Environmental and Workplace Safety Violations Belie Their Rhetoric

Large chemical companies a...

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Gasping for Support: Implementation of Tougher Air Quality Standards Will Require New Funds for State Agencies

New scientific research shows that the current levels of...

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