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

Tell the FEC to Protect Grassroots Lobbying!

Please join us in urging the FEC to exempt legitimate grassroots lobbying from campaign finance restrictions! The Federal Election Commission has invited public comment on whether the agency should move to exempt grassroots lobbying communications from election-law restrictions on broadcast advertising.

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527 Legislation on the House Floor Today

Apr 5, 2006 by Guest Blogger

The House Rules Committee yesterday sent a 527 bill to the floor, under a closed rule, with only one hour of debate. The legislation, sponsored by Reps. Shays and Meehan, was changed to add one provision repealing party spending limits. The provision was taken from legislation sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence. Even with the change, reformers are supporting the bill. Almost all - if not all - Democrats will oppose the bill, and it seems with the recent letter sent by a number of conservative organizations, some Republicans may defect as well. The bill is expected to be taken up this morning.

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Groups Complain of FBI Intimidation

A Michigan forum on freedom of information and open government held during Sunshine Week last month provoked a call to the event's sponsor, the local League of Women Voters, from a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent. The agent complained about one panelist’s statements that criticized the USA PATRIOT Act and suggested the League should have had someone from the federal government on the panel. Within days Common Cause and the League wrote to FBI Director Robert Mueller to protest.

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Senate Overwhelmingly Approves Lobby Reform; House To Take Up 527s

Voting just hours after former lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced, the Senate overwhelmingly passed what critics are calling a tepid effort at lobby and ethics reform. Now the pressure is on the House, where leaders have struggled to balance the need to pass reforms with a rebellious rank-and-file that wants business as usual.

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IRS Political Audit Program Heats Up

The fall campaigns may seem far away, but the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) program to enforce the ban on partisan activity by charities and religious organizations has already kicked into overdrive, with big cases left over from 2004 and new complaints being filed. On March 22, a complaint filed against the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN) alleged a recent get-out-the-vote training improperly featured Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), without inviting his opponent for re-election.

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NAACP Challenges IRS Audit By Filing Refund Claim

Apr 4, 2006 by Kay Guinane

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) announced March 30 that it is taking steps to challenge the Internal Revenue Service's threat to revoke its tax exempt status because its chairman, Julian Bond, criticized Bush administration policies in a 2004 speech. The NAACP has now filed a claim with IRS for a refund of $17.65, which it hopes will force the agency's hand in disclosing the status of an IRS the audit.

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Class on How to Decipher a Form 990

Apr 4, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Space is limited and only for NPC members, but if maybe Guidestar would want to hold another one... National Press Club Professional Development Committee Training class, "Decipher a 990," on how to read a Form 990 and find out who works for a non-profit group, who serves on its board, where the organization's income comes from and how it spends that money. The training includes a discussion on GuideStar.com, a web site that compiles financial reports filed by 1.5 million non-profits. [Note: Space is limited to 15; this event is free and is for NPC members only.]

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Common Cause Report on Telecom Astroturf

Apr 4, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Common Cause has issued a report which attempts to shine a light on some of the telecom industry's devious Astroturf campaigns, as well as their funding of think tanks for "research" that supports the industry's agenda. Because there is so little disclosure in this area, it is difficult to get all the information necessary to issue a comprehensive report.

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Multiple House Committees Work on Lobbying Bill

Apr 4, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Lobby reform will be on the House floor when the member's return from Easter recess, as four of the committees of jurisdiction have scheduled markups on HR 4975, the GOP's bill. Five committees have jurisdiction over the bill: Government Reform, Administration, Judiciary, Rules and Standards of Official Conduct, as the ethics committee is formally called. Judiciary and Rules will hold markups Wednesday; Government Reform and House Administration will hold their markups a day later. The Rules Committee:

limits or ban on gifts/meals

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Find Out if the Government Is Spying on Your Organization

Apr 4, 2006 by Guest Blogger

We have done many Watcher article son the spying by the U.S. government on a wide range of nonprofit organizations. Do you want to know if your organization is being spied on? People for the Ameican Way is helping you get that opportunity. Go to www.foiarequest.org and fill out a FOIA request form!

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