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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more news

Great Article on Environmental Astroturf

Mar 23, 2006 by Guest Blogger

An article in Environemental Science and Technology Online details a "grassroots" effort to "reform" the Endangered Species Act. It is worth a read.

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CREW Files Complaint Against PA Pastors

Mar 23, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) alleging that a get-out-the-vote training session offered by the Pennsylvania Pastors Network (PPN) may have violated IRS rules governing charities. Visit CREW's website

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WRTL Offers to Settle Case if FEC Acts

Mar 23, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From Bob Bauer's blog:

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FEC Delays Internet Rule

Mar 23, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From Rick Hasen's blog: My own take on what is happening at the FEC: the commissioners are likely looking for a compromise that would garner a majority vote on the Commission and be upheld against an inevitable court challenge no matter what the FEC does. This is a tall task. This is likely to be the most salient action of the FEC since its summer 2004 decision not to regulate 527s as political committees during that election.

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Conservative Groups Get More Grants, Says Washington Post

Mar 22, 2006 by Guest Blogger

My favorite quote, from Pat Robertson's strategist: it's "an effort to help little people." Check out the Washington Post article on the Bush Administration funneling at least $157 million in grants to organizations run by political and ideological allies, by Thomas B. Edsall. To view the entire article, go to The Washington Post

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FBI Used Anti-Terrorism Powers to Target Peace Group

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released documents on March 14, 2006 that document FBI surveillance and investigation of the Thomas Merton Center for Peace & Justice in Pittsburgh, PA, carried out because the group "has been determined to be an organization which is opposed to the United States' war with Iraq." This appears to be the first evidence that the FBI is using the viewpoint and activism of a U.S. nonprofit as a basis for investigation by the local Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).

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Questions Raised About IRS Enforcement Program

Complaints filed by two nonprofits illustrate the potential for abuse inherent in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) reliance on referrals from the public for leads in its enforcement programs.

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Lobby Reform: A Bill in the House, While the Senate Moves Toward Vote

Heading into the week long St. Patrick's Day recess, the House Republican leadership has formally introduced a lobbying and ethics reform bill, while the Senate has scheduled a vote for March 27. While both chambers are finally moving legislation, it is increasingly unclear what new rules will eventually be enacted, and whether they will change business as usual in Washington.

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Background on IRS Political Activities Compliance Program

Since the 2004 election the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has stepped up its enforcement of the ban on partisan electoral activity by charities and religious organizations. The result has been controversial audits, questions about the standards used to decide when to investigate and the procedures used and new guidance from the IRS. This article provides summaries and links to more infomration. Background: Update: Aug. 31, 2006: IRS Drops Case Against NAACP. See our press statement

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Summary of IRS Final Report on Political Activities Compliance Initiative 2004

On Feb. 24, 2006 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its much-anticipated assessment of its 2004 program created to enforce the ban on partisan election activity by charities and religious organizations. This summary outlines the procedures used in the programs and the results of the examinations competed to date. Background Update: Aug. 31, 2006: IRS Drops Case Against NAACP. See our press statement

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