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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Lichtman, Trister & Ross Summary of 527 Reform Act of 2005

A detailed analysis of the 527 Reform Act of 2005 has been published by attorney Laurence E. Gold, Lichtman, Trister & Ross, PLLC, a Washington, D.C. based law firm. To read it online click here.

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SBA Launches New Faith-Based Initiative Center

Feb 18, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The U.S. Small Business Administration had created a Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to help religous and community based nonprofits learn about and access SBA-backed programs and loans. As part of the program, the all current grants recipients have extended theor programs to faith-based organizations that focus a significant part of their program on aiding small businesses. They are already developing workshops, training seminars and open houses in an effort to increase outreach to these groups.

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527 Legislation in the Senate

Feb 16, 2005 by Guest Blogger

On February 2, 2005, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russell Feingold (D-WI), and Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA)--and two key Senators, Republican Trent Lott (R-MS) and Democrat Charles Schumer (D-NY) re-introduced legislation in Congress to stop section 527 organizations from illegally spending millions of soft-dollars to influence federal elections.

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Challenge to a Religiously Based Vocational Training Program

Feb 16, 2005 by Guest Blogger

A federal lawsuit filed today by two civil liberties groups challenges taxpayer-funded religious instruction and job discrimination in a vocational training program for inmates in Bradford County, Pa.

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WIA Markup retains faith-based discrimination

Feb 16, 2005 by Guest Blogger

There was great debate today during committee markup on the WIA bill. On the Scott-Van Hollen-Woolsey amendment, debate lasted almost two hours and was very spirited. Ultimately, the amendment was defeated 19-23. Among dems, Miller was not present for the vote, and Barrow voted no.

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Monster.com Supports Volunteers!

Feb 10, 2005 by Guest Blogger

Monster Supports Volunteerism by Launching a New Online Volunteer Center in Alliance with Idealist.org and boardnetUSA.org, Two Leading Volunteer Sites!

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HHS Withholds Study Results Showing Head Start Is Effective

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) failed to publish two reports that show Head Start is effective in raising the academic performance of low-income children. The National Head Start Association (NHSA) recently leaked the data, noting that the Bush administration continues its efforts to dismantle the program. Head Start advocates have been fighting the administrationÕs proposals to restructure the program for more than two years.

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Grassley Revenue Proposal Dims Chances for New CARE Act

On Jan. 24, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) introduced S. 6, The Family and Community Protection Act of 2005, a tax and welfare reform bill that includes the Charity, Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act (CARE). Although the bill was included in Majority Leader Sen. Bill FristÕs (R-TN) Republican Top Ten Agenda for 2005, recent moves by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) dim the ActÕs chances of success.

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New Bill to Regulate Independent PACs Introduced

On Feb. 2, seeking to act before the 2006 congressional campaigns get underway, sponsors of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) announced the introduction of a new bill aimed at regulating independent political committees. The 527 Reform Act of 2005, S. 271, specifically targets groups exempt under Section 527 of the tax code, so that charities and other groups exempt under Section 501(c) that focus on issues, not candidates, would not be impacted.

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IRS Clarifies Rules for Foundation Funding for Lobbying

A recent letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the Washington, DC-based nonprofit, Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest, sheds light on the rules that govern private foundation lobbying. CLPI had requested that the IRS answer a series of questions aimed at clarifying the law on foundation support of nonprofits that engage in lobbying. The response from the IRS dispels the misperception that foundation funding of nonprofits that lobby is inappropriate and illegal.

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