Decision Favors Charity, Another Case Challenges OMB Favoritism of Faith-Based Groups In a victory for nonprofit advocacy rights, a sweeping restriction on the privately-funded speech of nonprofits that participate in the U.S. government's international HIV/AIDS program has been held in violation of the First Amendment. Meanwhile, a challenge is being mounted against an OMB grading system allegedly used to encourage an increase in government funding to religious charities.

On May 9 a federal court denied the Christian Civic League of Maine's (CCLM) request for a preliminary injunction, allowing a Federal Election Commission (FEC) rule that bans "electioneering" broadcasts to be applied to the nonprofit group. The FEC prohibits broadcast references to federal candidates 30 days before a primary or 60 days before an election. Because the injunction was rejected, starting on May 14 and lasting until June 13 (when the senate primary in Maine takes place) CCLM will be barred from airing grassroots lobbying ads urging people in Maine to contact Sen.

Congress is expected to vote on an amendment this week that would save the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) from changes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed in September 2005 and expects to finalize this December. The Pallone-Solis Toxics Right to Know Amendment to the Interior Appropriations Bill would prevent the EPA from spending money to finalize the proposals. The amendment is welcome news to environmental, public health, first responder, and labor groups, who have mounted a campaign to compel the EPA to drop its plans to reduce information on toxic pollution.