What the Election Results Mean for Nonprofits
by Amanda Adams*, 11/27/2006
The Philanthropy Journal has a two part commentary written by Rick Cohen on what the election results mean for nonprofits. The first part has a summary of the nonprofit experience that the freshman class will bring to the 110th Congress. For example, John Yarmouth is the founder of the Center for Kentucky Progress, a state policy think-tank. There is also a run down of the key members who have left Congress. And of course, the Democrats are now capable of making lobbying reform an initial concern. "Moving lobbying reform would allow Sen. Max Baucus of Montana to revive his amendment that would have required the charities and foundations of Senate members to disclose their donors and prevent senators and their relatives and campaign staff from partaking in any of the charitable funds." The second part addresses the make up of strategically important committees. New members who have experience with nonprofits will be together with the new committee chairs who might take on accountability of charitable nonprofits and foundations. As Cohen recommends, "there is a critical mass of new members of Congress who should be approachable for the nonprofit sector. This is the time for nonprofits to stop sitting on their hands and laurels."
