Protecting Nonprofit Rights

 

OMB Watch strives to encourage and expand the rights of nonprofit organizations to engage in public policy advocacy and nonpartisan voter engagement efforts. Today more than ever, advocacy has to be seen as a civic responsibility, since nonprofits are often the vehicles of social change. The essential First Amendment rights of free speech are the cornerstone of our commitment to 501(c)(3) organizations.

Agencies Reporting Communications with Federally Registered Lobbyists

 

President Barack Obama's March 20 memo restricts communications between federally registered lobbyists and executive branch employees on use of Recovery Act funds. We have a chart of the agencies reporting contacts with lobbyists and the number of communication reports disclosed. Read more >> Updated April 20, 2010

Resource Center: IRS Rules on Election Activities of Charities

 

IRS enforcement of the ban on partisan activities by charities and religious organizations leaves many groups uncertain about what is prohibited partisan intervention. Our resource center follows developments in the Political Activities Compliance Initiative (PACI) in working towards clear rules for nonpartisan voter engagement.

 

Articles & Analysis

Congress Fails to Address Corporate Political Spending before August Recess

Recent congressional actions highlight concerns over corporate involvement in elections. Before the August recess, Congress made several attempts to regulate corporate electoral involvement, including the Senate’s failed attempt to pass the DISCLOSE Act and the House Financial Services Committee’s approval of the Shareholder Protection Act. Though some lawmakers worked around the clock, Congress ultimately failed to follow through on reform before the recess.

Read More >>

CREW Sues the Federal Election Commission over Case Dismissals

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Melanie Sloan, its executive director, recently filed a lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for continually dismissing cases without providing information about the decisions. Those who file complaints with the FEC are often unable to legally challenge the commission's dismissal actions or obtain the reasons for the dismissals.

Read More >>

OMB Watch Applauds White House Move to Quickly Fill Ethics and Government Reform Roles upon Norm Eisen Departure

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2010—Today, OMB Watch joined with several other good government groups to applaud the work of Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform. The groups also expressed appreciation that the White House has moved swiftly to replace Eisen, who is departing to become Ambassador to the Czech Republic.

Read More >>

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.

Read More >>

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.

Read More >>

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.

Read More >>