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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Conservative Groups Get More Grants, Says Washington Post

Mar 22, 2006 by Guest Blogger

My favorite quote, from Pat Robertson's strategist: it's "an effort to help little people." Check out the Washington Post article on the Bush Administration funneling at least $157 million in grants to organizations run by political and ideological allies, by Thomas B. Edsall. To view the entire article, go to The Washington Post

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FBI Used Anti-Terrorism Powers to Target Peace Group

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released documents on March 14, 2006 that document FBI surveillance and investigation of the Thomas Merton Center for Peace & Justice in Pittsburgh, PA, carried out because the group "has been determined to be an organization which is opposed to the United States' war with Iraq." This appears to be the first evidence that the FBI is using the viewpoint and activism of a U.S. nonprofit as a basis for investigation by the local Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).

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Questions Raised About IRS Enforcement Program

Complaints filed by two nonprofits illustrate the potential for abuse inherent in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) reliance on referrals from the public for leads in its enforcement programs.

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Lobby Reform: A Bill in the House, While the Senate Moves Toward Vote

Heading into the week long St. Patrick's Day recess, the House Republican leadership has formally introduced a lobbying and ethics reform bill, while the Senate has scheduled a vote for March 27. While both chambers are finally moving legislation, it is increasingly unclear what new rules will eventually be enacted, and whether they will change business as usual in Washington.

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Background on IRS Political Activities Compliance Program

Since the 2004 election the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has stepped up its enforcement of the ban on partisan electoral activity by charities and religious organizations. The result has been controversial audits, questions about the standards used to decide when to investigate and the procedures used and new guidance from the IRS. This article provides summaries and links to more infomration. Background: Update: Aug. 31, 2006: IRS Drops Case Against NAACP. See our press statement

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Summary of IRS Final Report on Political Activities Compliance Initiative 2004

On Feb. 24, 2006 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its much-anticipated assessment of its 2004 program created to enforce the ban on partisan election activity by charities and religious organizations. This summary outlines the procedures used in the programs and the results of the examinations competed to date. Background Update: Aug. 31, 2006: IRS Drops Case Against NAACP. See our press statement

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Text of Dreier Lobby Reform Legislation

Mar 17, 2006 by Guest Blogger

The text of the Dreier lobby reform bill can be found here

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Dreier Introduces Lobby Reform Bill in House

Mar 17, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Rep. David Dreier introduced a lobby reform bill yesterday. Click here for a section by section summary. GOP leadership intends to take it up after recess, although it is reported that it will change as members go home for their in-district work days and examine the bill more throughly.

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Frist Says Lobby Reform Back on Schedule

Mar 17, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Sen. Majority Leader Frist has put lobby reform back on the calendar! Monday, March 27 at 1 pm, the Senate will begin deliberations on the pending lobby reform bill. It is not clear how they intend to deal with the 70 some amendments still pending.

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Desperately Seeking a Name Change

Mar 16, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Public Citizen is reporting that Jack Abramoff's infamous watering hole for movers and shakers, Signatures, is looking for a name change. Public Citizen generously is offering up some suggestions...

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