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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September 16, 2010 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol.2, Issue 17
Featured articles, blogs and abstracts (click on headline to read full article):
1. UN and Experts Call for Increased Role of Civil Society in Countering Terror
2. Bipartisan Policy Center’s Terror Threat Report: U.S. Slow to Counter Domestic Recruitment by Terrorists
3. Blog: On Constitution Day, Don't Mourn, Organize!
4. Governor Apologizes for State Treating Activists as Terrorists
5. Oregon Charity Founder Convicted of Tax Charges
6. Appeals Court Holds Closed Door Proceedings in Challenge to NAIT Listing as Unindicted Co-conspirator

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September 1, 2010 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol.2, Issue 16
Featured articles, blogs and abstracts (click on headline to read full article):
1. Summary of the Supreme Court’ Ruling in Humanitarian Law Project: Provision of Advocacy and Training in Nonviolent Peaceful Conflict Resolution Violates Terrorism Material Support Laws
2. U.S.’s First Report to UN Human Rights Council Admits Shortcomings
3. Index of Aid Workers Killed or Abducted Around the World in 2010
4. Index of Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Nonprofit Sector Reports featured on the CSN website

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FEC Approves Coordination Rule

Aug 27, 2010 by Amanda Adams*

With a 5-1 vote, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) approved a rule on coordinated communications, to regulate messages that are the "functional equivalent of express advocacy" for or against candidates. This "functional equivalent" language comes from the 2007 Supreme Court decision in Wisconsin Right to Life Inc. v. FEC. A separate provision was voted down and would have covered all messages that "promote, support, attack or oppose" candidates.

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Report Urges the IRS to Improve Enforcement and Oversight of 527s

Aug 25, 2010 by Amanda Adams*

The Treasury Department's Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) released a report calling on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to improve oversight of 527 tax-exempt political organizations that do not file timely or complete reports. According to the findings, one out of every four report that was reviewed in the audit had incomplete or missing contributor or recipient information. By aggressively fining groups for filing late or incomplete forms, the IRS could collect $5.3 million.

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Statement of Commissioners Highlights Leniency of FEC Disclosure Rules

Aug 20, 2010 by Amanda Adams*

Earlier this week, the three Republican members of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) released a statement of reasons explaining their votes in May to dismiss a case against a no longer active 501(c)(4) group, Freedom's Watch.

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Congress Fails to Address Corporate Political Spending before August Recess

Recent congressional actions highlight concerns over corporate involvement in elections. Before the August recess, Congress made several attempts to regulate corporate electoral involvement, including the Senate’s failed attempt to pass the DISCLOSE Act and the House Financial Services Committee’s approval of the Shareholder Protection Act. Though some lawmakers worked around the clock, Congress ultimately failed to follow through on reform before the recess.

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CREW Sues the Federal Election Commission over Case Dismissals

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Melanie Sloan, its executive director, recently filed a lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for continually dismissing cases without providing information about the decisions. Those who file complaints with the FEC are often unable to legally challenge the commission's dismissal actions or obtain the reasons for the dismissals.

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August 16, 2010 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol. 2, Issue 15
1. ACLU/CCR Challenge Constitutionality of OFAC’s Licensing Scheme for Legal Service
2. Letter to President Outlines Reforms Needed to Protect U.S. Charities and Donors
3. Congressional Research Service Issues Report on Material Support Laws
4. Michelle Richardson: FBI's Latest Power Grab Is a Bold and Unnecessary Move
5. ACLU’s Action Alert: Tell Congress to Reject Expansion of National Security Letters
6. The Impact of Counterterrorism Measures on Charities and Donors After 9/11
7. Kay Guinane Answers Rep. Keith Ellison’s questions about Anti-Terrorist Financing & Charities
8. Documents Reveal Rampant Government Surveillance on Washington State Activists

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OMB Watch Applauds White House Move to Quickly Fill Ethics and Government Reform Roles upon Norm Eisen Departure

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2010—Today, OMB Watch joined with several other good government groups to applaud the work of Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform. The groups also expressed appreciation that the White House has moved swiftly to replace Eisen, who is departing to become Ambassador to the Czech Republic.

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Legislation to Overhaul Public Funding for Presidential Campaigns

Aug 4, 2010 by Amanda Adams*

Legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate (H.R. 6061 and S. 3681) to revise the outdated presidential public campaign financing system. Seeking to encourage smaller individual contributions, the bill would match small contributions of $200 or less with public funds at a 4-to-1 ratio.

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