{"articles":[{"reaction_config":[{"text":"Yes","color":"#624960","stance":"yes"},{"text":"No","color":"#4ac6ec","stance":"no"}],"id":32433,"title":"Do You Support Shielding Political Donors’ Identities?","html_content":"

by Causes | 8.1.19

What’s the story?

A federal judge in Montana has overturned an Internal Revenue Service rule that would have allowed certain political nonprofits, known as “social-welfare” organizations, to keep their donor lists hidden.
Last year, the IRS had reversed a longstanding rule that required groups like the National Rifle Association, AARP, and NRA to disclose the identity of large donors. New Jersey and Montana sued.
U.S. federal Judge Brian Morris ruled that the IRS did not follow proper procedure in writing the rule and needs to allow public comments before making changes to the tax code.

“Then, and only then, may the IRS act on a fully informed basis when making potentially significant changes to federal tax law,” Morris said.

What are people saying?

New Jersey attorney general, Gurbir Grewal, called the decision a “big win for democracy.”

\"Not only did the IRS try to make it easier for dark money groups to hide their funding sources, it did so behind closed doors,\" said Grewal in a statement.

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democratic presidential hopeful, said in June that elected officials were “like NASCAR, sponsored by different companies. At least voters oughta know who’s doing the buying. Literally now, a Russian could give to the NRA, and not even the IRS would know.”
IRS officials said Wednesday they do not comment on litigation.

What do you think?

Do you support shielding political donor identities? Or should nonprofits have to disclose their donors? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: iStock / Kritchanut)

","image_urls":{"large":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/gZAMg8wZ/e40480/iStock-955576356.jpg","medium":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/gZAMg8wZ/e40480/iStock-955576356.jpg","small":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/gZAMg8wZ/e40480/iStock-955576356.jpg","thumb":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/gZAMg8wZ/e40480/iStock-955576356.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/gZAMg8wZ/e40480/iStock-955576356.jpg"},"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/articles/32433-do-support-shielding-political-donors-identities","article_comments":"https://www.causes.com/api/articles/32433-do-support-shielding-political-donors-identities/comments"},"comment_count":436,"action_count":3129,"cta_prompt":"Should political donors be allowed to stay anonymous?","cta_type":"reactions","share_count":38,"published_at":"2019-08-01T18:34:05.521Z","is_countable_article":true,"allow_advocacy":true,"profile_id":1,"signed":false,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signable_progress":0,"video_url":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_aspect_ratio":null}],"users":[{"name":"Jeff","vote_count":44,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/default-with-hat.png"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/BWYjovqZ/following","followers":"/api/users/BWYjovqZ/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":2,"is_following":null,"influence_score":30,"influence_level":10,"follower_count":2,"following_count":2,"position_count":25,"id":"BWYjovqZ","partner_id":null},{"name":"jimK","vote_count":544,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/9odrQBnb/large_9odrqbnb-1557000969.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/9odrQBnb/small_9odrqbnb-1557000969.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/9odrQBnb/tiny_9odrqbnb-1557000969.jpg"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/9odrQBnb/following","followers":"/api/users/9odrQBnb/followers"},"about_me":"Retired, Politically Independent. Won’t listen to slogans, chanted mantras or generally any kind of marketing spin or “rebranding” crap. I firmly believe that everyone else is entitled to their erroneous opinions. Citizen vigilance and due diligence is price we must pay to live in a thriving, functional democracy.\nI fear that our citizens are too easily swayed by politician’s pablum about “babies”, “jobs” and now, in particular, perceived “enemies”. I fear that a citizenry focused on the “here-and-now” is easily tricked by short term benefits that have negative long-term consequences. I fear that our legislators are more concerned about buffing their constituents than looking out for the long-term welfare of our country- and are way too eager to provide those short-term benefits to the “here-and-now” crowd.\nI fear that honor is generally being sacrificed/replaced by expediency. I hear politicians eloquently argue for one side of an issue and later, when it’s to their benefit, just as eloquently argue for the opposite side. OK, so they are good at arguing- but what is that they actually believe? What is it that they actually stand for? An honorable person has values that persist even when it is not convenient or expedient. An honorable person has a moral compass that stops them from doing something wrong even if it is not illegal. A foul is a foul- even if the referee doesn’t catch you.\nI fear that each of our federal governmental branches have devised or discovered shortcuts which tend to protect them from the checks and balances our founders intended.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"jimk","issue_count":4,"is_following":null,"influence_score":44700,"influence_level":40,"follower_count":1524,"following_count":81,"position_count":539,"id":"9odrQBnb","partner_id":null}],"article_comment":{"flagged":false,"id":980197,"body":"I reluctantly support the idea that money is speech - but not if you won’t admit its you who’s talking. Also, many advocacy groups carry banal names like “Americans for better Future”. That is a purposeful attempt to hide who’s talking. If we don’t know their donors, then he are free to advocate disingenuously. ","parent_type":"Article","parent_id":32433,"created_at":"2019-08-05T14:22:12.528Z","liked":false,"like_count":1,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/comments/980197","likers":"https://www.causes.com/api/v1/likers?likeable_id=980197&likeable_type=Comment"},"article_id":32433,"shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/comments/980197.png","note":{"text":"No","color":"#4ac6ec","stance":"no"},"note_text":"No","note_color":"#4ac6ec","user_id":"BWYjovqZ","liker_ids":["9odrQBnb"]}}

Like Causes?

Comment Liked by 1 User