Protecting Nonprofit 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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more news

Editorial Calls for Total Transparency by Lobbyists

Nov 20, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

An editorial in the Washington Times, Lobbyists are good people, too advocates that transparency is the only way to fight against the stigma surrounding lobbyists. As the title suggests, lobbyists are not all corruptive and many may lobby on behalf of nonprofits, for example. "Shocking news in this season of lobbyist bashing - many lobbyists not only are good people but also represent real people." The author proposes transparency.

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Report Finds U.S. Aid Not Regularly Impartial

Nov 20, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

The Washington Post reports that according to a survey by a Madrid based nonprofit group that monitors donors' performance, the United States does a poor job at promoting humanitarian aid as independent and neutral. The Development Assistance Research Associates (DARA) Humanitarian Response Index 2008 measures how effectively the world's largest donors deliver aid. The U.S. ranked 15th in overall effectiveness.

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More Information Released on the Surveillance on Nonviolent Activists in MD

Nov 19, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

Following up on previous reports that Maryland state police engaged in surveillance of local peace and anti-death penalty groups during the administration of former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich (R), the Washington Post now details some new findings.

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Reform Recommendations for Security Laws Impacting Charities and Foundations

Nov 19, 2008 by Kay Guinane

A joint effort by civil liberties, human rights and nonprofit sector organizations coordinated by the Constitution Project has published its ">Liberty and Security Recommendations for the Next Administration and Congress. It includes specific recommendations for Charities and Foundations. The Introduction states:

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Citizens United Case Goes to Supreme Court

Nov 18, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

The Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments in the Citizens United case at the end of February. The court will review the Jan. decision of a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Citizens United v. FEC. The panel in Jan. rejected Citizens United's motion for a preliminary injunction, and in July, the court granted the Federal Election Commission's (FEC) motion for summary judgment on the merits.

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Nonprofits to President-elect Obama: Strengthen the Sector

Now that the election is over, nonprofits are encouraging the incoming administration to take action that will strengthen the sector with capacity building, incentives for giving, and policies that encourage service and protect the integrity of the sector. Many organizations, including OMB Watch, are also making policy recommendations in their areas of expertise, ranging from education to transparency to health and safety protections.

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Study Says Nonprofits Help, Not Hinder, the War against Extremism

On Oct. 30, the Fourth Freedom Forum and Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame released Friend Not Foe: Civil Society and the Struggle Against Violent Extremism. The report urges countries, including the United States, to move away from counterterrorism measures (CTMs) that harm nonprofits and do not improve security. The report also calls on nonprofits to be more proactive in countering misinformation and shaping policy alternatives.

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Georgia GOP Seeking to Shorten Early Voting

Nov 17, 2008 by Lateefah Williams*

After an unprecedented turnout during early voting in Georgia, state GOP leaders are seeking to shorten the early voting period. According to the Associated Press, "Republican lawmakers are considering proposals for next year's legislative session that would shorten Georgia's early voting season."

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Lobbying and 501(c)(3)'s

Nov 14, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

An article from onPhilanthropy provides information on how certain requirements included in the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (HLOGA) effect 501(c)(3) groups. The article covers reporting requirements, gift rules, and much more. "Charitable and other section 501(c)(3) organizations are not exempt from federal lobbying laws, so it is vitally important that your organization understands its new obligations."

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Rules for Lobbyists in Transition

Nov 13, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

New rules on lobbying have been announced for those working on President-elect Barack Obama's transition team. For example, lobbyists can serve in the transition as long as their activities do not involve areas of policy they have tried to influence in the past year. Federal lobbyists will be prohibited from any lobbying while they are at work on the transition. The rules also prohibit people from lobbying the Obama administration for a year on any matters in which they worked while on the transition team.

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