Nonprofit Speech 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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Appeals Court Ruling Holds Warning for Federally-funded Faith-Based Groups

Apr 19, 2006 by Guest Blogger

According to the Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy: A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit accusing the University of Notre Dame of illegally using public money for religious activities connected to its training of teachers for Roman Catholic schools. In its two-to-one ruling, the panel held that the $500,000 federal grant at the center of the case could be ordered repaid if it is found to have been used improperly -- overturning the lower court judge who decided the case was moot because the money had already been spent. For the whole scoop

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CCL Case to Be Heard on April 24

Apr 19, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From the :

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Portman Picked to Head OMB

Apr 19, 2006 by Guest Blogger

President Bush announced Tuesday morning that he will nominate ex-Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH) to be the next director of the Office of Management and Budget. For more on this story, see Roll Call

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Nonprofit Stories in the OMB Watcher

Apr 19, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Grassroots Lobbying Issue Hits the FEC and the Courts
Ohio Church Complaint Raises Questions of Fairness in IRS Enforcement
Lobby Reform: House Bill Moves Toward Floor Vote
House Votes to Regulate Independent 527s Like Campaigns, Parties

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Freddie Mac Hit With Record Breaking FEC Fine

Apr 19, 2006 by Guest Blogger

The Federal Election Commission has awarded a record $3.8 million fine to Freddie Mac, the government-chartered home mortgage company, for violations of campaign fundraising laws. The FEC believes that Freddie Mac, through its government relations firm, compensated a corporation for producing campaign fundraising events. Freddie Mac, for its part, contends that the retainer “was paid solely to compensate Epiphany for services unrelated to Mr. Delk’s fundraising events,” including “political and legislative advice.” Read more on this issue in Roll Call

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More Policy Summaries

See background information on issues affecting nonprofit advocacy, with links to related news, analysis and more.

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Grassroots Lobbying Issue Hits the FEC and the Courts

OMB Watch was among a varied group of nonprofit organizations that filed comments at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) urging it to quickly begin the process of rulemaking that would exempt grassroots lobbying from federal election regulation. At issue is a ban under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) on "electioneering communications," broadcasts that refer to federal candidates within 60 days of a general election or 30 days of a primary.

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Ohio Church Complaint Raises Questions of Fairness in IRS Enforcement

In an unusual case, 31 religious leaders in Ohio have written to the IRS objecting to inaction on a complaint against two Ohio mega-churches and their affiliates. The complaint filed in January alleges violation of the tax law's prohibition on partisan electoral activity by 501(c)(3) groups, which include religious organizations. Fairfield Christian Church, World Harvest Church and their respective affiliates, according to the group of pastors, carried out activities intended to help Republican Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell in his bid for Ohio's governorship.

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Lobby Reform: House Moves Towards Floor Vote

House Republican leaders are weighing options to bring lobby reform to the floor after five committees reported out provisions that both Democrats and watchdog groups are calling toothless and ineffective.

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House Votes to Regulate Independent 527s Like Campaigns, Parties

The House of Representatives passed legislation that would subject independent political committees, exempt under Section 527 of the tax code, that work on federal elections to essentially the same contribution limits and reporting requirements as federal candidate campaigns and political parties. H.R. 513, the 527 Reform Act of 2005, passed the House on April 5 by a vote of 218-209.

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