August 3, 2010 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol. 2, Issue 14
1. Appeals Court Orders Due Process to Fix State's Listing of Foreign Terrorist Organization
2. In a Bad SPOT: Why a Military Database for NGOs Is Impractical
3. Senate Hearing Looks at Problems with FBI Surveillance Guidelines
4. ACLU Requests FBI Records on Racial Profiling
5. Response to Matthew Levitt's Take on Due Diligence by Charities (Part 2)
6. Lisa Schirch’s Huffington Post blog: Supreme Court Ruling Impacts Peacebuilding in Afghanistan
7. House Report Calls for Examining Details of USAID's Problematic Vetting System

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FEC Approves Advisory Opinions for Independent Expenditure Committees

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) recently voted 5-1 to approve advisory opinions allowing two political organizations to collect unlimited contributions for independent expenditures in federal campaigns. The groups, the conservative Club for Growth (the Club) and pro-Democratic Commonsense Ten, will disclose their donors and spending to the FEC. The opinions provide some guidance to entities that wish to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to run ads supporting or opposing candidates for federal office.

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July 16, 2010 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

 

 

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For-Profits Use Nonprofit Structure to Avoid Earmark Ban

In response to intense criticism of congressional earmarks, House Appropriations Chair David Obey (D-WI) announced a ban on all earmarks to for-profit organizations. These companies and their congressional patrons wasted little time in funneling earmarks to nonprofit organizations in order to circumvent the ban. Using nonprofits to circumvent the ban on earmarks raises questions about the practice itself, as well as the policy of ending all earmarks to for-profit corporations.

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Nonprofits Active in Voting Rights Issues before Midterm Elections

As the midterm elections approach, nonprofit organizations are staying active in voting rights issues. Nonprofits have played key roles in the settlement of a New Mexico voting rights case, opposition to the state of Georgia's challenge to the federal Voting Rights Act, and advocacy supporting the Fair Elections Now Act. Through these and other activities, nonprofits are advocating for a process that ensures that their constituencies' interests are represented.

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June 30, 2010 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol. 2, Issue 12
Featured articles, blogs and abstracts (click on headline to read full article):
1. Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Peaceful Conflict Resolution Support To Terrorists
2. Opinion: Court’s Humanitarian Law Project Ruling Fails the Common Sense Test
3. Case Background: Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project
4. News Articles, Editorials, and Commentary/Analysis about the HLP decision
5. Audio File: Nonprofit and Legal Experts Provide Response to Court’s Ruling
6. Challenges in Counterterrorism Rules Make Peacebuilding with Listed Groups Difficult
7. Witnesses at Hearing Say Profiling Is Counterproductive to Law Enforcement Goals
8. Former Head of Missouri Charity Pleads Guilty to Violating Sanctions Against Iraq

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Supreme Court Says States May Disclose Petition Signatories

On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that states may publicly disclose referendum petition signatures. The case, Doe v. Reed, centers on the public's right to know who signed petitions related to Referendum 71, a 2009 attempt to overturn Washington State’s expanded domestic partner law, which gives gay and lesbian couples the same rights as married couples.

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House Passes DISCLOSE Act, Senate Struggle Begins

On June 24, the House passed the DISCLOSE Act by a close, largely party-line vote of 219-206. Supporters praise the bill as a success for transparency, while critics argue that it is an attack on the First Amendment and creates unfair exemptions for groups such as the National Rifle Association. The companion bill in the Senate, S. 3295, must now overcome many obstacles.

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June 16, 2010 Charity and Security Network Newsletter

Vol. 2, Issue 11
Featured articles, blogs and abstracts (click on headline to read full article):
1. Anniversary of Cairo Speech Passes Without Reforms on Rules for Charities
2. Analysis of the Treasury Department’s FAQ for charitable giving
3. USIP Report: Reform Listing Procedures to Turn Groups Away From Violence
4. Update: Coalition of Nonprofits Asks Obama to Put Humanitarian Imperative First
5. State & Justice: Respect for Human Rights Fundamental in Combating Terrorism
6. NGOs Tell House Committee That Foreign Aid Rules Need Fixes
7. NGO Impartiality May Upset Some, But Is Important for All
8. One Year After Cairo Speech, Obama Needs to Address Charitable Problems

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Wrangling over DISCLOSE Act Slows Bill Down, but Deal May Be Near in House

Some members of Congress have started to explore exempting certain nonprofits from the DISCLOSE Act, the bill developed by Democrats to respond to the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision from the U.S. Supreme Court. While some nonprofits are concerned about donor disclosure requirements in the bill, other groups are concerned that exemptions or changes to the bill would render the legislation ineffective. These organizations worry that without strong disclosure requirements, the bill would allow political ads sponsored by anonymous sources to flood the airwaves at election time.

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