Alliance for Justice, Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, National Council of Nonprofit Associations and OMB Watch, Present Nonprofit Advocacy Rights: What Are They? How Are They Under Attack? Wednesday, January 25, 2006 The following nonprofit leaders discussed the lobbying and election activity rules for nonprofits and past attempts to restrict these advocacy rights through federal legislation. The panel also addressed current attempts to restrict nonprofit advocacy rights and how these restrictions impact the voting and lobbying rights of various constituencies. Speakers: Gary Bass, Executive Director, OMB Watch Sheila Crowley, President, National Low Income Housing Coalition Ted Waters, Counsel, National Head Start Association Hilary Shelton, Director, NAACP Washington Bureau Clarissa Martinez, Director of State/Local Policy, National Council of La Raza Rev. G. Stanley Steele, Senior Vice President of Housing and Community Development, Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries Thomas Shellabarger, Policy Advisor, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Background Information: An OMB Watch FAQ Sheet on the Nonprofit Gag Provision OMB Watch's analysis of the "affiliation" language of the Nonprofit Gag Provision AFJ's Election Year Rules for 501(c)(4)s and 527s AFJ's Permissible Election Activities Checklist for 501(c)(3)s afj chart The 1976 Law Governing Nonprofit Lobbying Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest Fact Sheet NCRP Press Release OMB Watch's Comparison of Major Advocacy Rules Social Progress at Risk in Congress: Affordable-Housing Fight Poses Threat to Nonprofits, the Poor, Rick Cohen, Philanthropyjournal.org Slippery Slope Leads to Rocky Road for Nonprofits, Rick Cohen, The Nonprofit Quarterly