House Republican leaders lobbying package today met with reservations from the rank and file Republican members. Reportedly, Members are concerned about the provisions on privately funded travel, earmarks and gift bans. The draft does not currently contain a grassroots lobby disclosure provision. But it should. Why? Check out our paper on grassroots lobbying. A draft will be available Thursday, but legislation will probably not be introduced until after the St. Patrick's Day recess. According to Congress Daily, the package:

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has filed an Internal Revenue Services (IRS) complaint against Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), and American for Tax Reform Foundation (ATR Foundation), asking the IRS to investigate activities by the groups which may violate IRS regulations and require a revocation of their tax-exempt status.

Sen. Charles Grassley has accused the Red Cross of allowing a weak board to rule the organization, overstepping its Congressional mandate, and fostering a culture that cares more about good publicity than good deeds. The Senate Finance Committee has Grassley's letter, as well as the Red Cross' response to Grassley's request for documents.

An article in the Hill says that the nonprofit group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washingington (CREW) may be the recipient of a complaint filed with the IRS. Tax experts say that CREW’s seemingly lopsided focus on Republicans will raise flags at the IRS, but they caution that determining violations of tax status so depends on the specific facts and circumstances of each case that it is impossible to predict how the IRS will act.