DCCC Now Calls on the IRS to Investigate Freedom's Watch
by Amanda Adams*, 5/1/2008
Last week the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) filed a second complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against the organization Freedom's Watch. Now the DCCC has asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate whether the group should lose its tax-exempt status. The DCCC believes the group should instead file as a 527 political organization rather than a 501(c)(4).
Freedom's Watch spokesman Ed Patru was quoted in the Politico, describing the IRS filing as a "massive case of selective indignation.' Patru said the DCCC is suffering from both a 'fundamental misunderstanding of the regulations governing 501(c)(4) communications' and an agenda that isn't popular with voters."
"The IRS, on the other hand, has signaled that it is closely monitoring the political activities of nonprofit groups this year, which means there may be more traction for the DCCC's charges there [as opposed to the FEC]."
