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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Senate's Turn on Ethics and Earmarks Rules

Jan 10, 2007 by Dana Chasin

The House adopted its earmarks and ethics rules last week. This week, the Senate is struggling with its own rules package, S. 1, based on a bill that the Senate passed easily last year, with the expectation of considering several amendments and completing it next week. Regardless of the outcome, S. 1, "will be a tremendously important piece of legislation in the annals of history of this country," Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) said yesterday, per CQ($$). Let's see how it turns out.

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Grassroots Lobbying and Public Citizen's List of "Astroturf Groups"

Jan 9, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Today the Senate began the debate on lobbying legislation. As noted previously, S.1 will be based off S.2349 passed last March which includes a grassroots lobbying disclosure provision already causing controversy. The press has picked up on the likelihood of opposition and efforts to have the measure stripped from the bill. As reported in today's Roll Call; "As Senators take up the bill this week, public interest groups are preparing for fights over grass-roots lobbying disclosure and reimbursement rates for lawmakers taking rides on corporate jets."

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Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure: A Requirement that Makes Sense

Both Senate and House Democrats are proposing reforms regarding disclosure of lobbying, including frequency and content of reporting. One provision would require disclosure of grassroots lobbying activities; that is, activities to encourage the public to lobby for or against particular legislation or public policies. The provision has drawn the ire of conservatives, which are spreading inaccurate information about the legislation being considered.

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Court Upholds Wisconsin Group's Right to Air Grassroots Lobbying Ads

On Dec. 21, 2006, in a victory for grassroots lobbying rights, a federal court ruled that three radio ads Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL) wished to broadcast in the months before the 2004 election should have been allowed because they did not expressly advocate election or defeat of a federal candidate. The 2-1 decision held that a campaign finance rule banning broadcasts referring to a federal candidate aired during the campaign is unconstitutional as applied to WRTL's lobbying ads, but limited its ruling to the facts of this case. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) and sponsors of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA) appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and joined in WRTL's request to expedite the case.

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House Imposes New Ethics Rules

On Jan. 4, even before debate began on the Democrats' promised first 100 hours agenda, the House, by a 430-1 vote, approved rules changes aimed at ending the "culture of corruption" of the past Congress. The changes address relations between lobbyists and members of the House and are meant to curb abuses revealed in last year's scandals involving convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and several members of the House. On the next day, the House approved additional rules changes.

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House Adopts Lobby and Ethics Reform Package

Jan 5, 2007 by Dana Chasin

In the first legislative act of the 110th Congress, the House adopted an initial set of "honest leadership" rules changes yesterday by a vote of 430-1. A floor vote on a second set of rules changes, covering "civility and fiscal responsibility," is expected today. Yesterday's package of rules changes provides the following:

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House and Senate Begin Ethics and Lobbying Reform

Jan 4, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The House and Senate have recently convened, and as promised, the next two days will involve the adoption of new House rules that address ethics, lobbying, budget enforcement, and the disclosure of earmark sponsors. The text of the House rule changes can be read here. These new House rules include:

prohibiting members and staff from accepting gifts or meals from lobbyists or private organizations that have lobbyists.

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All Parties Want Supreme Court to review WRTL Case

Jan 4, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

BNA Money and Politics (subscription required) reports that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the congressional sponsors of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) have appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court in regards to the federal court ruling in the Wisconsin Right to Life Inc. (WRTL) case. It was ruled that the group had the constitutional right to sponsor three grassroots lobbying advertisements during the 2004 election. WRTL filed a motion asking the Supreme Court to expedite consideration of the FEC's appeal. Both sides want the Supreme Court to review the case quickly.

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Nonprofits: Applying for Grants Online

Jan 4, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

For those interested in learning how to apply for grants online, and for those unfamiliar with grants.gov, there will be a valuable web training. To register visit www.ngma.org. Beginning the day of the training the webcast will be available anytime online.

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Violence Against Aid Workers

Jan 4, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Reuters reports that aid worker violence reached a high in 2006 with 90 major incidences. Over 40 percent took place in Sudan. The article addresses the need for non-governmental organizations to be recognized as neutral and impartial, regardless of skin color. "It's not just that aid workers are associated with political actors; they are political actors. In conflict situations, attacking them is seen as an effective way of controlling the local population."

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