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...

read in full

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...

read in full

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...

read in full

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...

read in full

more news

Lobby Reform: Two Bills Move to Senate Floor, Still No Bill from House

Just days after Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) was sent to jail on bribery charges, the Senate is debating new ethics and lobbying rules, while the House ponders its next move. The Senate will likely vote on legislation this week or next week.

read in full

Ever Get A Robo-Call? Want to Know Who Is Behind It?

Mar 7, 2006 by Amanda Adams*

We've spoken a lot in our statements about the importance of grassroots lobby disclosure. Ever get a robo-call? That is grassroots lobbying - a first amendment protected right, but something that should be disclosed nonetheless. Here's a link to a Hill article that explains who is behind the robocalls.

read in full

Lobby Reform Update

Mar 7, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From CQ: (subscription required) The Senate Rules Committee and the Governmental Affairs Committee have both advanced bills on the topic (S 2349, S 2128). On Monday, members adopted by unanimous consent a GOP leadership-backed substitute amendment that combines the two bills for floor action. Trent Lott, R-Miss., is the point man ensured with ushering the legislation to passage. He has promised to achieve that goal within three days.

read in full

Online Freedom of Speech Act

Mar 7, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Is expected to see action on Wednesday. For discussion of H.R. 1606, see Bob Bauer's blog.

read in full

Treasury Shuts Down Muslim Charity

On Feb. 19 the Treasury Department froze the assets of KindHearts USA, padlocking the doors of the Toledo-based charity "pending an investigation." The Treasury Department claims the group has connections to Hamas, but KindHearts officials vigorously denied the allegations. The official closure of KindHearts makes it unlawful for U.S. citizens, businesses, and organizations to carry out transactions with the organization. In response, a coalition of Muslim groups sent a letter to Treasury Department Secretary John Snowe on Feb.

read in full

HHS Gives Guidance on Keeping Federal Funds Out of Religious Programs

Settling a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has agreed to suspend funding of a nonprofit accused of using taxpayer dollars to present religious messages in a federally-funded sexual abstinence program.

read in full

Affordable Housing Fund Provision in Senate; No Anti-Advocacy Provision

Mar 6, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From National Low Income Housing's Memo to Members: On February 16, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) introduced S. 2319, the Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006. The bill includes, among other things, language that would establish an Affordable Housing Fund with a percentage of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s profits.

read in full

Summary of the Markup of the Collins/Lieberman Substitute to S. 2128

On Mar. 2, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the Collins/Lieberman substitute to S. 2128, the Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act, legislation aimed at tightening ethics and lobbying rules for both lobbyists and members of Congress and their staffs. The committee approved a substitute authored by Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Joe Lieberman (D-CT) to a bill introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). The final vote was 12-1, with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) the lone dissenting voice. As introduced in committee, the legislation would:

read in full

Lobbying Bills to See Floor Action Next Week

Mar 3, 2006 by Guest Blogger

We're hearing: The lobbying bills reported out of Rules and HSGAC are expected to be taken up in the chamber early next week. Two competing measures (S 2349, S 2128) are ready for floor action. It remains unclear whether the bills will be combined or considered separately.

read in full

Online Freedom of Speech Act May See Consideration Next Week

Mar 3, 2006 by Guest Blogger

We are hearing that the House will be re-considering H.R. 1606, the Online Freedom of Speech Act, introduced by Rep. Hensarling, sometime next week. The bill would affirm the FEC's original decision to exclude the Internet from the definition of "public communications" under campaign finance law. The result would be to exclude the Internet from issues of soft money and illegal coordination. Congressional action would also point the FEC in the direction of a similar rulemaking. Daily Kos has more.

read in full