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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Panel on Nonprofit Sector Makes Final Recommendations to Senate Committee

On June 22, the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector released its Final Report on reform for charities, saying the measures are "intended to strengthen the ability of the nation's 1.3 million charities and foundations to serve as responsible stewards of the public's generosity." The 116-page report, which makes over 120 recommendations in 15 areas of nonprofit governance and financial reporting, was well received by Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Mark Everson.

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Nonprofit Panel Rolls Out Final Recommendations

Jun 22, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector published their final report today. The panel recommends: Charities and foundations should include far more detailed information about executive and board compensation and the independence of board members on their informational tax forms -- but should not be required to place limits on what they pay their top officials or board members. Charities should be prohibited by law from making loans to their board members, but nonprofit organizations should still be permitted to make loans to their employees.

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Faith-Based Hearing Today in RHOB

Jun 21, 2005 by Guest Blogger

HOUSE GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE Faith-Based and Community Initiative Authorization Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources Subcommittee hearing on "Authorizing the President's Vision: Making Permanent The Faith-Based and Community Initiative - H.R.1054, the 'Tools for Community Initiatives Act.'" Witnesses: TBA Location: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. 2 p.m. Contact: 202-225-5074 http://www.house.gov/reform

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Cuts Will Hurt Faith-Based and Community Groups

Jun 20, 2005 by Kay Guinane

The annual budget process is well underway, with appropriations committees in the House and Senate making conflicting decisions about funding social service programs. While the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to shift $7 billion from the defense budget to pay for domestic programs, the House is taking the opposite approach. The House subcommtitee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies approved buts in 49 programs to save $2.3 billion.

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Faith-Based and Community Groups Target of Scams

Jun 20, 2005 by Kay Guinane

The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy reports that scam artists are defrauding small religious and community groups that want help applying for federal grants. See the full story in the Roundtable News

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Study Shows Charitable Giving Increasing

Jun 14, 2005 by Kay Guinane

The Associated Press reports that Americans have increased their charitable contributions by 5 percent in the past few years. But more contributions are going to groups where donors have a direct stake, and not to social services. See the full story.

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Host of Comments Filed on FEC Proposed Internet Regulation

Comments filed by a host of groups and individuals concerned with proposed regulation of Internet communications by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) reflect a general sense that the Internet should be largely unregulated, but disagreement over details. Over 1,000 groups, bloggers and others signed a Statement of Principles calling for protection of this “unique and powerful First Amendment forum.” Comments from three reform groups opposed a per se exemption for organizations. OMB Watch comments recommended a hands-off approach.

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House Committee Repeals Parts of Campaign Finance Law

The House Administration Committee approved an amended version of the 527 Fairness Act (H.R. 1316) on June 8 in a straight party line vote. The bill would repeal some parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) by increasing limits on individual and PAC contributions and removing restrictions on electioneering communications by some nonprofits. It would not put limits on contributions to independent 527 groups, but would require them to report to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) as well as the IRS. Internet communications would also be exempt from regulation.

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Update: Senate Finance Committee and Nonprofit Legislation

Senate Finance Committee activity on nonprofit regulation is picking up steam as the projected date for introduction of the long-awaited reform bill approaches. Conservative groups and Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) have expressed concern about the impact some proposals could have on small nonprofits and that there is inadequate resources to enforce existing laws. The committee’s staff report on land donations was released June 7, and a June 8 hearing took an in-depth look at ways future abuse in this area can be avoided.

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Senate Finance Committee June 8 Hearing: Report on Reform

Jun 8, 2005 by Kay Guinane

The Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing today to review a report by staff on proposals for reform of land conservation easements. See the witnesses' testimony and the Committee Report on the Nature Conservancy

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