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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Appeals Court Upholds USAID Pledge Requirement for HIV/AIDS Grantees

On Feb. 27, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Columbia overturned a lower court ruling that voided a USAID requirement that grantees under an HIV/AIDS program adopt certain policies on prostitution. The ruling in DKT International v. USAID is the first decision in two cases in separate federal appeals courts that involve the same issue. DKT expects to seek a re-hearing before the entire Circuit Court. An appeal from another lower court ruling that overturned the same requirement is pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York.

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Senate Committee Considers Electronic Filing

Mar 15, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Yesterday the Senate Rules and Administration Committee held a hearing on S.223, the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act. As reported in BNA Money and Politics ($$), Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) plans to have the committee approve S.223 "in the coming weeks." The bill would require Senate candidates to file campaign finance reports electronically. Ranking Member Senator Bob Bennett (R-ID) may try to amend the bill, which some say might weaken the bill's chances of passing.

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Faith-Based Hiring Amendment in Head Start Reauthorization Bill

Mar 15, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Yesterday the House Education and Labor Committee approved Head Start reauthorization legislation, HR1429. Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuno (R-PR) offered an amendment that would have allowed faith-based organizations to hire teachers on the basis of religion. According to CQ, ($$) this issue was the main point of contention during the five hour long markup hearing. Supporters of the amendment said the religious hiring would help increase faith-based groups participation in the Head Start program. This same proposal was included in last year's Head Start reauthorization bill.

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Showdown on Grassroots Lobbying: The Electioneering Communications Rule

2007 will hopefully see the sun set on a contentious and drawn out battle over the electioneering communications rule as applied to nonprofits. On April 25, 2007 the Supreme Court hears oral argument in Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life (WRTL). The outcome of this case will determine if grassroots lobbying broadcasts by nonprofits can be exempted from the current restrictive federal rules.

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Changes to the Combined Federal Campaign Charity Drive

Mar 12, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The Office of Personnel Management, which administers the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity drive in government offices, has decided to drop a requirement that charities spend no more than 25 percent of their total revenue on administrative and fund-raising expenses. Charities that exceeded the cap were required to give the OPM a reason, which the agency said was an administrative burden. Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter to President Bush expressing his concern about this rule change.

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Senate Amendment on Material Support Defeated

Mar 9, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

While the outcome of S.4, the Senate bill to implement 9/11 recommendations, continues to be murky, one important amendment was defeated today in a vote of 49-46. This package of amendments offered by Senator Cornyn (R-TX) S.AMDT.312 included a measure that would have further expanded the definition of material support. Written so broadly, it could have made it a crime for individuals, including Americans and US aid and relief organizations to give charitable assistance to a family member or anyone who might live next door to a suspected terrorist.

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Rules Hearing To Consider Senate Electronic Filing

Mar 9, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

On March 14, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee will hold a hearing on S.223, the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act to require Senate candidates to file election reports electronically. Currently House candidates, presidential candidates, party committees, and political action committees are required to do so, while Senate candidates are exempt. BNA Money and Politics ($$) reports that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is fully in favor of the measure, and FEC Staff Director Patrina Clark is set to testify at the hearing.

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Mitt Romney Wants to Repeal McCain-Feingold

Mar 8, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Presidential contendor Mitt Romney has publicly stated that he is opposed to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, calling for its repeal. Romney believes it restricts free speech, and increases an appeal to regulate grassroots organizations. The end of his press releases references the Wisconsin Right To Life case. The blog www.moresoftmoneyhardlaw.com has an interesting response. From Romney's press release:

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Senate Finance Committee Seeks Information on Nonprofit Abuses

Mar 8, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Finance Ranking member Charles Grassley (R-IA) sent letters to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Mark Everson and IRS Chief Counsel Donald Korb asking for "an updated list of the newest, biggest tax avoidance scams — including those using nonprofit groups - that deserve the committee's attention." The Senators are asking that they receive the document by April 1. The letter also referenced the IRS 2007 "Dirty Dozen", a listing of the top tax scams.

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Congressional Philanthropy Caucus

Mar 7, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The Examiner reports that a new bipartisan House caucus will be formed specifically committed to issues affecting the nonprofit sector. Representative Robin Hayes (R-NC) will co-chair the first Congressional Philanthropy Caucus, and hopefully an identical group will form in the Senate. This announcement coincided with the Council on Foundations' annual "Foundations on the Hill", an event where grantmakers can meet members of Congress. This appears to be an excellent opportunity where the issues impacting the sector can reach Congress. The blog Inside Philanthropy also responded to this news.

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