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

[Sam Goldstein]

Although I absolutely agree with the premise of this alliance, we are
clearly a partisan policy party.  I wonder how that would
set with any other groups involved in the project.

I would also want a better understanding of what would be asked of us and
what we would gain in return.

Live Free,



Sam Goldstein
Libertarian National Committee
Member at Large
8925 N Meridian St, Ste 101
Indianapolis IN 46260
317-850-0726 Phone
317-582-1773 Fax

On Wed, Sep 14, 2016 at 5:35 PM, Nicholas Sarwark <chair at lp.org> wrote:

> 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/>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Justice and Integrity in the Tax System"
>
> Media Kit:
>
>
> *http://TaxRevolution.us/media-kit <http://taxrevolution.us/media-kit> *
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Lnc-business mailing list
> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>
>
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