[Lnc-business] Fwd: IRS Rule Change That Would Destroy Free Speech and Grassroots Activism

[Nicholas Sarwark]

Dear All,

I have had some discussions with the Tax Revolution Institute about the
Libertarian Party joining their First Amendment Alliance.  Below is an
email from Jason Casella, the Program Director, with details about what is
happening and what they're doing.  I told him I would send it on to the LNC
to discuss whether we are interested in signing on.  Please chime in with
whether you would support or oppose our signing on and reasons so I can get
a sense of whether it's something that should be put up for a vote.

Yours in liberty,
Nick


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jason Casella <jcasella at taxrevolution.us>
Date: Wed, Sep 14, 2016 at 1:29 PM
Subject: IRS Rule Change That Would Destroy Free Speech and Grassroots
Activism
To: chair at lp.org


Good Afternoon Nick,

It was a pleasure speaking with you again.   As I mentioned, we have formed
a non partisan first amendment alliance
<https://taxrevolution.us/first-amendment-alliance/> to stop this rule and
would love to have the Libertarian Party join and wanted to see if you know
of any organizations that would like to join.   Here is a little more
background on the situation as well as a link for the bill
<https://taxrevolution.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Free-Speech-Protection-Act-Final.pdf>
we have prepared.

Shortly before Thanksgiving in 2013, as the American public left for the
holiday, the IRS quietly issued a proposed rule
<https://taxrevolution.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/IRS-Rule-line-by-line-explanation.odt>
to
“clarify” the definition of political activity for not-for-profit social
welfare organizations (501c4s). This “clarification
<https://www.thenation.com/article/irs-swings-dark-money-misses-target/>”
would have left many organizations unable to function, as it would have
effectively prohibited them from mentioning the voting records and names of
many public officials. After receiving over 175,000 comments
<https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=IRS-2013-0038>, mostly in opposition,
the IRS withdrew the rule. Shortly afterward, instead of taking the
initiative to protect free speech, Congress kicked the can down the road,
prohibiting the funding of any such new rule *until October 1st of this
year*.

On June 8th, 2016, 43 members of Congress
<http://www.dems.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Letter-to-Full-Committee-on-501c4-Rider1.pdf>
*urged
the House Appropriations Committee to remove even those modest protections*,
and allow the IRS to fund the nonprofit muzzling rule. And as revealed in
an interview with *Politico*
<http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/irs-may-broaden-rule-to-police-political-nonprofits-116206>,
not only is IRS Commissioner John Koskinen still pursuing the rule, but he
now wants to expand it to include all nonprofits; labor unions, business
associations, churches, educational institutions, and even charities.

The rules claim to be an attempt to “clarify” what makes an
activity “political” and therefore cannot be counted toward a nonprofit
organization’s purpose. They could include:

   - posting a candidate’s voting record
   - voter registration
   - get-out-the-vote efforts


   - voter guides
   - candidate questionnaires
   - discussing issues “related” to candidates


   - Having the name of a candidate on a non-profit’s website, *even if it
   was posted before they were a candidate*

*If enacted, these rules would censor many nonprofit organizations, reduce
civic engagement, and open the door to crippling red tape for even the most
non-political organizations.*

If Congress does not act by October 1st, the impact these IRS rules could
have on nonprofits of all types could be devastating. The Tax Revolution
Institute’s First Amendment Alliance will raise awareness about the full
impact of these rules and organize action to prevent their implementation.
For more information visit: https://taxrevolution.us/first
-amendment-alliance/
Here is also the press release
<https://taxrevolution.us/tax-watchdog-aims-protect-free-speech-first-amendment-alliance/>
we just published earlier this week on the alliance as well.

Please reach out when you can.

Best,


*Jason Casella*
Program Director

*Tax Revolution Institute*
Capitol Hill District
20 F Street NW
7th Floor
Washington, D.C.  20001
P 202-507-6329 <202-601-0454>
F 202-507-6101 <202-601-0454>
C 202-601-0454

jcasella at taxrevolution.us <dan at taxrevolution.us>
http://TaxRevolution.us <http://taxrevolution.us/>





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Media Kit:


*http://TaxRevolution.us/media-kit <http://taxrevolution.us/media-kit> *
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