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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Report: U.S. Anti-Terrorism Policies Hurt Muslim Charities

A new report from OMB Watch explains concerns about the impact of the war on terror on Muslim charities, and provides a detailed update on the status of U.S.-based Muslim charities that have been shut down by the Treasury Department. Muslim Charities and the War on Terror: Top Ten Concerns and Status Update notes that, "Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, U.S.-based charities have become targets in the government's war on terror financing. Despite the sweeping implications for all domestic nonprofit organizations, the lion's share of the burden of increased scrutiny, suspicion, and pre-emptive action has fallen on Muslim groups. This imbalanced campaign raises significant legal and ethical questions." The report has been updated to reflect closure of another Muslim charity, on Feb. 19, 2006.

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Temporary Travel Ban Moratorum? Pence Says Yes.

Mar 1, 2006 by Guest Blogger

From the Hill: Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, endorsed a temporary moratorium on privately funded travel during a closed-door meeting of House Republicans yesterday. The Pence endorsement is the first significant sign of support from conference conservatives for a temporary travel ban. Reportedly, although Majority Leader Boehner dismissed the idea initially, he said this week that "there is some merit to it". He is supportive of pre-approval of travel.

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What's Up With the Grassroots Lobbying Disclosure Provision?

Mar 1, 2006 by Guest Blogger

The bill that will be marked up tomorrow in HSGAC currently does not contain a grassroots lobbying disclosure. Reportedly, Sens. Leiberman and Levin will offer an amendment in committee to include grassroots lobbying disclosure. If that doesn't work, or is not allowed, Democrats are said to be planning on introducing an amendment on the floor. Why wasn't it included in the Chairman's Mark? According to the Hill:

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OMB Watch Statement on Lobby Reform

Mar 1, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Why is grassroots lobby disclosure good for nonprofits? Find out by reading our statenent on lobby reform and grassroots disclosure. While your at it, check out our resource center on lobby reform!

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Lobby Reform:Markup and Hearing Tomorrow!

Mar 1, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Don't forget! A Markup and a Hearing on Lobby Reform Tomorrow! House Rules Hearing: Time: 10:00 AM Location: H-313 The Capitol Senate HSGAC Markup: Time: 10:00 AM Location: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Rm. 342 Marking up a substitute to S. 2128, Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2005

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No Campaign Finance, Grassroots Disclosure in Rules Markup

Feb 28, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Nothing controversial on the lobbying front came out of a Sen. Rules Cmte markup today. The bill would give any senator the ability to strike offensive “out of scope” provisions through a 60-vote point of order without killing an entire bill, however, it does not address issues outside the jurisdiction of the Rules committee, such as campaign finance law or lobbying law changes. These are expected to be addressed in a markup on Thursday in Sen. Homeland Security and Government Affairs committee. The Hill's take...

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Red Cross To Undergo Independent Audit

Feb 28, 2006 by Guest Blogger

According to the Washington Post, the Red Cross is commissioning an independent audit to identify ways in which it can meet growing demands for assistance, and recommend reforms to the execution of its mission.

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HHS Pulls Funding for Silver Ring Thing

Feb 28, 2006 by Guest Blogger

Following up on a Watcher article we did in Sept., HHS has agreed to settle the lawsuit that was filed against for providing federal funding to a pro-abstinence that did not seperate the message from the religous componets of the program. The case was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). For a Roundtable article on the decision.

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Lobby Reform & Grassroots Lobby Disclosure: Good for Nonprofits

Lobby and ethics reform discussions in Congress could prove to be a significant opportunity to level the current uneven playing field, where wealthy interests have inordinate access to lawmakers and voice in public policy debate. Successful reforms would change this dynamic, giving individuals and groups lacking enormous resources, like most nonprofit organizations, a more equal chance of being heard.

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