Dec. 4, 2013, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement condemning a new IRS regulation that will severely restrict the constitutionally protected speech of 501(c)4 tax-exempt organizations:
“The Obama Administration is acting as if Citizens United never happened. Now, instead of targeting the tea party and other 501(c)4s for selective discrimination, the IRS wants to codify the practice in regulation. This is nothing more than an effort to defy the Supreme Court and implement rules that violate the First Amendment’s protection of the freedom of speech by drawing up rules dramatically redefining the criteria to be a (c)4 — all without any vote in Congress.
“Citizens United lifted restrictions on electioneering communications by groups. Now, very similar limitations are once again being proposed for groups, including blackout windows 60 days prior to a general election and 30 days prior to a primary. The IRS even proposes expanding the restrictions to include anything that even mentions a public official who happens to be candidate, even if such communications does not contain express advocacy, if they constitute a majority of the group’s activity.
“This tightens the ability of non-profits to engage in public discussions on areas of interest if a candidate for political office happens to be involved in that area; it will make voter registration drives more difficult; and it will generally make it harder for organizations to comment on issues of public concern, especially during certain parts of the year.
“Also, of note, the proposed regulation does not apply to labor organizations, although the proposal states that the Administration is considering a regulation in this area. Thus, a likely result is that a final rule will be promulgated further restricting non-profit speech and activities long before any comparable regulation is promulgated on the activities of labor organizations. The net result will be more restrictions on the rights of conservative leaning organizations while the same restrictions on left leaning labor organizations remain unfinished.”
Attachments:
“Obama expands war on political speech,” By ALG senior editor Robert Romano, Dec. 2, 2013
(Editor’s Note: The above communication is a news release and does not necessarily reflect the editorial position of FITSNews.com. To submit your letter, news release, email blast, media advisory or issues statement for publication, click here).
9 comments
Goddamn. You really are nothing but a pitiful shill for this fucking asshole.
Oh, STFU!
It’s almost enough to make a liberal out of a Republican.
I’m going out RIGHT NOW, and join the ACLU!!
The Obama rules will stifle the speech of the particularly insane and fringe-right groups. This is a good thing. All they do is exploit falsehoods and provide ammo for Limbaugh. This is a great tactical move by the Dems
There may be insanity in any “group” but to shutdown the so-called “fringe” is to prevent the speech of a minority. A democratic republic was created to prevent that oppression. Ideas are to be aired and discussed in the public square even as they are distasteful to an elite.
The only way to exercise free speech is to spend millions of dollars buying politicians via millions upon millions of dollars in campaign contributions? Gotcha.
Who be the decider? And are they even-handed? (“the proposed regulation does not apply to labor organizations”)
Is justice blind? At the IRS – heck no.
Yesterday’s “fringe” is today’s ruling class.
This is nothing more than a bunch of rich people bitching that something is being done to thwart them spending millions upon millions of dollars in shadow money networks unduly influencing politics in this country and essentially bribing people in local, state, and federal government elected positions.
What a surprise that ALG is one of those bitching, as they are affiliated with Howard Rich, someone who actively spends money through his shadow network to fund politicians in this very state.
Actually, they are not complaining that these changes will prevent them from spending millions upon millions of dollars in shadow money networks unduly influencing politics in this country and essentially bribing people in local, state, and federal government elected positions. They are complaining the IRS may take away their tax deduction for spending millions upon millions of dollars in shadow money networks unduly influencing politics in this country and essentially bribing people in local, state, and federal government elected positions.