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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OPM/Combined Federal Campaign's Motion to Dismiss in ACLU v. OPM

To see the Office of Personnel Management's Motion to Dismiss (in pdf format) the suit against them challenging the Combined Federal Campaign's requirement that participating charities check their employees against terrorist watch lists- click here

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527 Legislation in the Senate

Feb 16, 2005 by Guest Blogger

On February 2, 2005, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russell Feingold (D-WI), and Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA)--and two key Senators, Republican Trent Lott (R-MS) and Democrat Charles Schumer (D-NY) re-introduced legislation in Congress to stop section 527 organizations from illegally spending millions of soft-dollars to influence federal elections.

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Challenge to a Religiously Based Vocational Training Program

Feb 16, 2005 by Guest Blogger

A federal lawsuit filed today by two civil liberties groups challenges taxpayer-funded religious instruction and job discrimination in a vocational training program for inmates in Bradford County, Pa.

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WIA Markup retains faith-based discrimination

Feb 16, 2005 by Guest Blogger

There was great debate today during committee markup on the WIA bill. On the Scott-Van Hollen-Woolsey amendment, debate lasted almost two hours and was very spirited. Ultimately, the amendment was defeated 19-23. Among dems, Miller was not present for the vote, and Barrow voted no.

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Combined Federal Campaign Anti-Terrorist Certification Requirement

In a positive step for federal anti-terrorist financing policy, the Office of Personnel Management's Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the federal government's workplace charitable giving program, has finalized a rule change that moves away from its previous requirement that all participating charities check their employees names against government watch lists. Instead, the new CFC rule requires participating charities to certify that they are in compliance with existing anti-terrorist financing laws. Background

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Monster.com Supports Volunteers!

Feb 10, 2005 by Guest Blogger

Monster Supports Volunteerism by Launching a New Online Volunteer Center in Alliance with Idealist.org and boardnetUSA.org, Two Leading Volunteer Sites!

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Treasury Dept. Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines Miss the Mark

Background information regarding the Treasury Dept.'s Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines for Domestic U.S. Charities, and current status of efforts to have them revised.

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HHS Withholds Study Results Showing Head Start Is Effective

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) failed to publish two reports that show Head Start is effective in raising the academic performance of low-income children. The National Head Start Association (NHSA) recently leaked the data, noting that the Bush administration continues its efforts to dismantle the program. Head Start advocates have been fighting the administrationÕs proposals to restructure the program for more than two years.

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Investigation of Agency Use of Funds for Propaganda Requested

Several columnists, some with ties to nonprofits, have recently been the agents of covert propaganda for the Bush administration. An investigation by USA Today revealed that the Department of Education (ED) hired a public relations agency, Ketchum Incorporated, to promote the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). As part of this contract, Ketchum entered into a subcontract to pay Armstrong Williams, a conservative commentator, $240,000, to promote the NCLB. Two more cases of similar actions have surfaced, prompting the Campaign Legal Center to request an investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

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Grassley Revenue Proposal Dims Chances for New CARE Act

On Jan. 24, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) introduced S. 6, The Family and Community Protection Act of 2005, a tax and welfare reform bill that includes the Charity, Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act (CARE). Although the bill was included in Majority Leader Sen. Bill FristÕs (R-TN) Republican Top Ten Agenda for 2005, recent moves by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) dim the ActÕs chances of success.

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