Two days until
Thanksgiving
Lets git'er done!
Woo hoo!! Less than $5.3k to go!!
Posted on 11/26/2013 2:44:32 PM PST by reaganaut1
The Obama administration on Tuesday moved to issue new rules that would curtail political activity by tax-exempt nonprofit groups, with potentially significant ramifications for one of the fastest-growing sources of campaign spending.
The proposed rules, announced by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service, would expand and clarify how the I.R.S. defines political activity and then establish clearer limits for how much activity nonprofits can engage in. Such a change — long urged by government watchdog groups — would be the first wholesale shift in a generation in the regulations governing political activity.
The move to curtail nonprofits follows years of legal and regulatory shifts, such as the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling in 2010, that have steadily loosened the rules governing political spending, particularly by big corporations, labor unions and wealthy individuals.
The rules would not prohibit political activity by nonprofit organizations. But by establishing clearer limits for campaign-related spending, the new rules could have a significant impact on the big-spending nonprofit groups that have played a central role in national politics in recent years, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on political advertising and voter outreach.
The administration’s proposal would apply to nonprofit groups organized under Section 501(c)4 of the tax code, which are permitted tax exemption in exchange for devoting themselves primarily to the promotion of “social welfare,” which under current rules can include some political activity.
The largest political nonprofits — such as Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, co-founded by Karl Rove, the Republican operative, or Americans for Prosperity, backed by the conservative philanthropists Charles and David Koch, have exploited that provision to spend heavily on election-themed advertising.
But under the proposed guidance, a broad swath of campaign-related activity — including any ads that mention a candidate within 60 days of an election
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Of course... we all know they will be even-handed
not
Only a fool would think these new rules will not favor Democrats and screw Republicans
I'm calling out the B.S. right there. 501(c)3 organizations are engaged in mainly charitable activities and donations to them are not only tax exempt, but tax deductible. They already have a high bar to clear relative to political activities (unless they support Democrats, in which case the rules aren't enforced.)
501(c)4 organizations, such as this forum, only have to show they are not engaging in for profit activities so that donations to them are not taxed. But said donations are not deductible. In effect, the BO administration is seeking to double tax people who donate to places like Free Republic. These donations are non-deductible after tax dollars. Then, they want to tax them again as normal income to Free Republic (or similar organizations) once the donation is received.
Obama is looking to institutionalize harassment of conservative groups.
Time for another lawsuit.
The Democrats are hell bent on limiting the one thing that the founders had in mind with the first amendment: political speech. They, of course, will exempt themselves and those organizations that support them such as the Labor Unions, Planned Parenthood, and the other legions of leftist political front organizations.
Luckily enough most of Ubama’s contributions are laundered through anonymous prepaid debit cards, so this will not affect him.
“The largest political nonprofits — such as Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, co-founded by Karl Rove, the Republican operative, or Americans for Prosperity, backed by the conservative philanthropists Charles and David Koch, have exploited that provision to spend heavily on election-themed advertising.”
Prime example would be VFP - Veterans for Peace. They’re a 501(c)3 and do nothing charitable as far as I could find (as opposed to the VFW and the American Legion). They’re also very political, with sit-ins at Congressmen’s offices. Even their national president received a less than honorable discharge. As far as I can see, there’s no bar for this group of miscreants.
Free Republic is not a charity or IRS non-profit organization. We do not raise funds for charitable purposes or causes. We raise funds solely to cover our operating costs, labor, and all applicable state and federal income and payroll taxes.
This will explain yesterday’s story about Rove’s PAC. Won’t find many defenders of Rove here, I understand, but FReepers shouldn’t bay like hound dogs whenever the Dems throw them red meat.
...would expand and clarify how the I.R.S. defines political activity and then establish clearer limits for how much activity nonprofits can engage in. Such a change — long urged by government watchdog groups — would be the first wholesale shift in a generation in the regulations governing political activity.IOW, it will be analogous to the Barrycades, which were lifted for a pro-amnesty rally in DC.
They’ve never been enforced neutrally and are just an opportunity to cheat. Let’s get rid of corporate taxation once and for all and restore the Freedom of Association.
How about a law blocking judges from releasing the names of donors to these NFP? There’s too much mischief making on the part of political attorney generals, state’s attorneys and judges.
The Pink Mafia targeted a friend of mine for supporting the Prop 8 and he was “tried” by his company to see if he could retain his job. It’s horrible.
It’s unenforceable and unconstitutional. This is simply meant to chill the political environment for conservatives.
The government is simply an arm of the DNC... or vice versa.
Supporting the government going after political speech eventually ends in mewling. Some might even lick the mailed fist.
Is FR a 501(c)(4)? The address on the home page claims it's an LLC.
Jim?
Not a 501c. We are an LLC.
We are not a 501c. We are an LLC and pay income taxes on our income. We chose not to participate as a non-profit so the IRS cannot have control over us.
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