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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Forged Letter Scandal Highlights Need for Greater Disclosure

In June, Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) received a letter that was supposedly authored by Creciendo Juntos, a nonprofit group in his district. The letter urged him to oppose the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a bill designed to combat climate change. Perriello's office also received similar letters on letterhead from the local NAACP chapter. These letters turned out to be fake; they were sent by a lobbying firm hired by a trade group representing coal producers and power companies. Government ethics and transparency watchdog organizations responded, saying that using forged letters as part of a lobbying campaign is outrageous misconduct that harms the legislative process and highlights the need for increased disclosure.

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August 17, 2009 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol. 1, Issue 15
Featured articles and blog commentaries (click on headline to read full article)
1. Senate Committee Says USAID Must Reconsider Proposed Vetting System
2. Report- Overdue Process: Protecting Human Rights while Sanctioning Alleged Terrorists
3. National Security Advisor Stresses Need to Address Drivers of Violent Extremism

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Revisiting Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure

Aug 12, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, who opposed the House passed climate change bill remains under attack for sending fake letters to House lawmakers. The firm sent out letters using the names of an N.A.A.C.P. chapter and a network of nonprofit organizations serving Latinos. Reportedly, more nonprofits' names were used including the American Association of University Women and the Jefferson Area Board for the Aging.

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Coming Soon: TARP Lobbying Rules

Aug 7, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

According to The Hill, the Treasury Department is waiting for the administration's approval before finalizing restrictions on lobbying for Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) funding, only ten months after the program began.

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Real Truth About Obama Again Denied Request for Preliminary Injunction

Aug 6, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

In a case from the 2008 campaign, the Real Truth About Obama (RTAO) lost its bid for a preliminary injunction. RTAO is a 527 organization that wanted to run ads examining then presidential candidate Barack Obama's position on abortion and other policy issues.

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Proposed IRS Rules Address Ranking of Official Pursuing Church Tax Inquiries

Aug 5, 2009 by Lateefah Williams*

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has proposed rules that would give the Director of Exempt Organizations the authority to pursue church tax inquiries. This became a big issue when a lawsuit, United States v. Living Word Christian Center, was filed challenging the IRS’ assertion of what officials were high ranking enough to initiate church tax inquiries. The federal district court in that case ruled that the Director of Exempt Organizations Examinations was not a high enough ranking official to initiate the inquiries.

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Over 40 Briefs Filed In Citizens United

Aug 5, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

As the Supreme Court prepares to potentially alter the campaign finance system, over 41 briefs have been filed to weigh in on the Citizens United case. BNA Money and Politics ($$) considers the brief that stands out the most was filed by the AFL-CIO, which called for elimination of the ban on corporate and union funding of electioneering communications.

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Judge Rules New Mexico Nonprofits Are Not Political Committees

Aug 4, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

A federal court ruled that New Mexico state officials were wrong to order two nonprofits to register as political committees and disclose the funding of mailers the groups sent out two months before the 2008 primary. The New Mexico Independent reports that the judge found that the materials were not unambiguously campaign related. "Therefore, she wrote, the nonprofits were not subject to a state law that would have required the nonprofits to register as a political committee."

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Just Don't Call Yourself a Lobbyist

Aug 4, 2009 by Amanda Adams*

Business Week reports that, "just because a new President vowed to change business-as-usual in Washington and Congress heightened scrutiny," not much has really changed, except perhaps for the terminology. "At a time when lobbying is under assault, the most effective practitioner is sometimes someone who technically isn't a lobbyist."

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