Comments on: Pass S. 223

By: Celine Grenier

Celine Grenier — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:58:15 +0000

I used Public Campaign’s 8/5/08 “Is Your Senator Willing to Share [Campaign Financing Information]?” emailing to write an email to eight friends in a state I used to live in (my current Senators were already on board S.223) and did some of the easy early work for them related to their contacting their senators, whom I know something about.

Perhaps suggesting readers who have lived in other states contact those they know in those states regarding this and other actions would be a good idea.

The collaboration among groups is VERY encouraging!

By: Paul Blumenthal

Paul Blumenthal — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:47:35 +0000

What we’re talking about here is a nonprofit or other outside organization filing an ethics complaint against a sitting Senator with the Senate Ethics Committee.

Whatever objections you may with Pastor Ted (who is no longer with the New Life Church for, well, well known reasons) or Fred Phelps, they aren’t relevant in this instance. And, if they did lobby Congress, they would have to disclose just like everyone else. (To look at the Christian Right’s lobbying arm just look for the American Family Association.)

What we are talking about here is an amendment that would require organizations filing ethics complaints to reveal their sources of funding. This is an attempt to impose an undue burden to groups attempting to hold Congress accountable. It’s a protection racket amendment.

Not only that, it is unconstitutional. Previous Supreme Court rulings have forbidden the forced disclosure of nonprofit donor lists. This amendment would constitute such a forced disclosure.

If Senators or others, such as yourself, want to learn more about nonprofits and religious organizations, there are many ways including looking up 990 tax forms that all tax-exempt nonprofits must file.

By: late

late — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:55:33 +0000

I’m not sure that I agree with your opposition. I’d think it is actually fair to have these non-profit groups including Religious churches to “open there kimonos”. Remember they aren’t paying any taxes and they have the “God given ability” to influence – someone – I’m all for holding everyone accountable to be on the up and up. Lets start with these guys:

Westboro Baptist Church headed by Fred Phelps
New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Pastor Ted Haggard