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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House Leaders Pull Sunset Bill from Floor

Jul 28, 2006 by Guest Blogger

According to BNA, House Republican leaders pulled Rep. Todd Tiahrt's sunset commission legislation from the floor after it "became apparent Thursday that enough Republicans had lingering concerns and would not vote for the measure." Appropriator Ray LaHood, summed it up: while "no one has talked to me about it," he opposes the bill, adding that "we don't need a commission to evaluate these agencies; that's what we're elected for."

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Fundraiser for Islamic Charity Released

Jul 28, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From the Associated Press: A federal judge on Thursday ordered the release of a top fundraiser for an Islamic charity who has been held for two years because the government says he has ties to terrorism, his attorney said Thursday. Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan was ordered released without bond from the Terminal Island federal detention facility, according to his attorney, Ranjana Natarajan of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

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Fundraiser for Islamic Charity Released

Jul 28, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From the Associated Press: LOS ANGELES -- A federal judge on Thursday ordered the release of a top fundraiser for an Islamic charity who has been held for two years because the government says he has ties to terrorism, his attorney said Thursday. Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan was ordered released without bond from the Terminal Island federal detention facility, according to his attorney, Ranjana Natarajan of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

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Corruption in the HAVA Negotiations?

Jul 26, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From Roll Call:

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Frist Open To Senate Vote On '527' Groups

Jul 26, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From Congress Daily : Senate Majority Leader Frist is open to forcing a Senate vote on regulating so-called 527 campaign groups before the House and Senate vote on an underlying package of lobbying and ethics reforms, according to GOP senators and congressional aides.

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OPM Drops Problematic CFC Certification on Lobbying Expenses

Under pressure from nonprofit groups, the Office of Personnel Management, the independent federal agency that manages civil service government employment, proposed last month to drop an unclear certification requirement discouraging nonprofits from conducting legally-permissible issue advocacy.

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Report Examines Political Coordination of Tax-Exempt Organizations

A new study by the Campaign Finance Institute (CFI) examines the electoral and advocacy roles played by different types of nonprofit organizations, and suggests possible reforms.

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Religious Groups Ask IRS to Revisit Audit Procedures

On July 17, 2006 an attorney representing several religious organizations wrote to the IRS requesting that the agency revise its new procedures for initiating audits of religious groups. According to the letter, the process is inconsistent with First Amendment protections codified by Congress in 1984, and was implemented without pubic notice or comment. The letter is the latest in a series of public criticisms of the IRS approach to oversight of religious and charitable organizations, including a recent OMB Watch report.

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IRS Calls Catholic Group's Actions Too Political

Jul 25, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From Chronicle of Philanthropy: A Catholic organization in Missouri has asked candidates for state office to return contributions from a charity that advocates for stem-cell research. The move prompted a complaint from the Internal Revenue Service that the request violates prohibitions on political activity by charities.

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OMB Watch Report Revitalizes Congressional Call for Bright-Line Test

Jul 18, 2006 by Guest Blogger

OMB Watch's report on the PACI Project seems to have spurred debate on a bright line rule for 501(c)(3) issue advocacy during elections. From the LA Times: The OMB Watch report, Schiff said, has motivated him to again seek a response from the IRS and the Treasury Department. He wants the report's recommendations to be adopted. "I think the guidelines are so ambiguous and unclear, anyone standing behind the pulpit has to be wondering what they can say on the most important issues of the day," he said.

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