Thank you Virginia!!
And received this question from ConcreteBob on the prior thread:
"OK I missed that first post. What problem in Virginia? I live in Virginia there is no problem in Virginia. If there were a problem in Virginia I would know about it because I would be the one responsible and I haven't done anything to create a problem but if you keep insisting there's a problem in Virginia, there will be a problem in Virginia. Just ask Coop."
Explaining to ConcreteBob, Coop and all Virginians:
I received a letter a month or two ago from the Commonwealth of Virginia claiming that FR is subject to a Virginia state law that regulates charities soliciting in their state. Well, we're not a charity and have no corporate presence in Virginia and feel they have no jurisdiction over FR.
We're a private company not an IRS or tax exempt organization. We pay all applicable state (California) and federal taxes, do not solicit in Virgina (or anywhere else) by phone, telegraph, direct mail, or media advertising, etc., not even by email. In fact, the ONLY soliciting we do is ON this website mostly on these quarterly fundraising threads and it's obviously directed to our members and participants. I don't see how anyone outsiders would possibly have any interest in supporting FR.
Like I said, we are not a charity and do not solicit for charitable purposes. The donations provided by our members are used solely to support this website. That includes our equipment and bandwidth costs and all labor, programming, systems and management costs and all other legal, accounting, administrative, taxes and overhead costs associated with operating the largest and very best conservative discussion site on the Net!!
We had our lawyer contact them to explain the situation, but they claim we're subject anyway. So, we've now hired a VA law firm to try to work it out. In the meantime, our lawyers have recommended we do not accept donations from Virginia residents. I explained all this on our first thread (and we are NOT purposely soliciting to Virginians), but patriots that they are, Virginians are donating anyway.
What I'm going to do is forward all donations received from Virginia to our law firm and have them hold them in their trust account until the matter is resolved. If we prevail, the funds will be used in our operations. If not, we'll have to return them to the donors.
Thank you all very much and may God Bless Virginia! God willing, we will prevail!
man, that is surely a politically motivated inquiry. have other states done that?
where does it end? maybe you should just accept all donations anonymously.
Luke 11:52
Woe to you, lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering you hindered.
We have an onset of stupidity in the SCC concerning FreeRepublic.
Flora, think this might be blogworthy?
"Martin, J. Tucker"
I have no idea if it will help, but he does work in the OAG.
I'll email Attorney General Bob McDonnell if it will help, and I'm sure other VA FReepers will be willing to do the same.
I assume it's the SCC (State Corporation Commission) that claims you're subject to the law?
I'll not have some faceless bureacrat telling me where I can send my money.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
McDonnell speaks at Glen Allen Ruritan Club's Forum on Internet Crimes
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center
2880 Mountain Road, Glen Allen
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
McDonnell speaks at Petersburg TRIAD Conference
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Good Shepherd Baptist Church
2223 South Crater Road
Petersburg
McDonnell Holds Conference Call for Weekly, Smaller Market, and Non-Daily Publications
Time: 2:30p.m.
Location: Call-In Number: 1-800-337-3137
Pass Code: 2550 Then #
"Live with the Attorney General" on WINA 1070 AM Charlottesville
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: WINA 1070 AM in the Charlottesville Area
Thursday, October 12, 2006
McDonnell attends the Kiwanis Harbor Party and Seafood Feast
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Town Point Park
Waterside Drive, Norfolk
McDonnell speaks at the 2006 Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing Fall Conference Banquet
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Newport News Omni Hotel
1000 Omni Boulevard
Newport News
Saturday, October 14, 2006
McDonnell speaks at the Fall Meeting Luncheon and 60th Anniversary Celebration of the Richmond Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Immaculate Conception Church
2150 Cunningham Drive
Hampton
J. Tucker Martin
Director of Communications
Office of Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell
Tucker.Martin@oag.state.va.us
We're NUMBER 3 Baby!!!!