501c-4s...the other side of the story

[editec]

The organizations at issue are known as 501(c)4 groups (call them C4s for short) after the section of the tax code that applies to them. They're nonprofit "social welfare" organizations that by law must be devoted primarily to programs broadly serving their communities, not private groups. IRS forms reveal what the agency considers to be mainstream C4s: religious groups; cultural, educational and veterans organizations, homeowners associations, volunteer fire departments. In recent years, however, overtly political groups have been claiming C4 status, which allows them to keep their donor lists secret and to avoid paying taxes on certain income.

Our lunatic campaign finance system is what turned the typical C4 from a volunteer fire department into a conduit of anonymous political cash. Big donors were given the green light to spend freely on elections by the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision. That wasn't good enough for some; they wanted to distribute their largess secretly.

If the above has merit, then the ONLY question is were Right wing groups scrutinized at a higher standard than other 501c-4s.

If the answer is NO, then no harm no foul.

If the asnswer is YES, then heads must roll.

But more to the point?

Are 501c-4s really a good idea?

I think they are not.

 

[NYcarbineer]

I was looking at this just as you posted this thread:

Tea Party Express Launches New Ad Funded by 501(c)(4) That Hits Obama

Tea Party Express Launches New Ad Funded by 501(c)(4) That Hits Obama : Roll Call Influence

 

[westwall]

The organizations at issue are known as 501(c)4 groups (call them C4s for short) after the section of the tax code that applies to them. They're nonprofit "social welfare" organizations that by law must be devoted primarily to programs broadly serving their communities, not private groups. IRS forms reveal what the agency considers to be mainstream C4s: religious groups; cultural, educational and veterans organizations, homeowners associations, volunteer fire departments. In recent years, however, overtly political groups have been claiming C4 status, which allows them to keep their donor lists secret and to avoid paying taxes on certain income.

Our lunatic campaign finance system is what turned the typical C4 from a volunteer fire department into a conduit of anonymous political cash. Big donors were given the green light to spend freely on elections by the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision. That wasn't good enough for some; they wanted to distribute their largess secretly.

If the above has merit, then the ONLY question is were Right wing groups scrutinized at a higher standard than other 501c-4s.

If the answer is NO, then no harm no foul.

If the asnswer is YES, then heads must roll.

But more to the point?

Are 501c-4s really a good idea?

I think they are not.

I agree they are not a good idea but it appears the IRS either slowed or prevented up to 500 rightwingers but allowed all the leftwing groups to go through. Including Obama's half brother who had been collecting funds for years illegally, they allowed him his status within weeks and made it retroactive so that his illegal fund gathering could be safely ignored.

Further the information was passed on to some very well funded leftwing groups and that is totally illegal. People need to be going to prison over that...and for a very long, long time.