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Protect 501(c)(4) organizations’ freedom of speech
Tea Party Patriots and most liberty groups are
classified as 501(c)(4) by the IRS. The NumbersUSA outfit (whose sole mission is
to educate voters on any legislative action that impacts immigration) sent out
an alert concerning a new IRS regulation that will muzzle all 501(c)(4)’s — in
the days leading up to an election. There’s a new website called Protect C4
Free Speech http://www.protectc4freespeech.com/
and here is the home page information:
The Internal Revenue
Service has quietly announced a new rule that strictly limits the ability of
501(c)(4), tax-exempt organizations from working on their core missions in the
months leading up to federal, state, and local elections. The proposed regulations
would prohibit these organizations from engaging in candidate-related political
activity, which, by the proposed rule's definition, includes any mention of a
candidate's name or political party even if presented in a non-political
context. Further, organizations would have to ensure that any references to
candidates in past communications are not publicly available, including online,
during the pre-election window. These regulations would, in effect, prohibit
organizations from providing the public with candidate comparisons and voting
records, engaging in get-out-the-vote activities, or encouraging informed civic
participation, among other activities. They would severely limit both the
organizations' First Amendment free speech and the public's ability to hold
elected officials accountable for their actions.
“Under the proposed
definition, any public communication that is made within 60 days before a
general election or 30 days before a primary election and that clearly
identifies a candidate for public office (or, in the case of a general
election, refers to a political party represented in that election) would be
considered candidate-related political activity.”
Without your input,
these proposed regulations will take effect and the rights of all Americans
will be curtailed. It is our duty as Americans to make our voices heard and
insist that our rights are protected. Please take a look at the sample comments
and then submit yours directly to the federal government. The deadline for all
comments is February 27, 2014, so act now!
Among the organizations participating with
NumbersUSA are The Sierra Club, the pro-Amnesty National Council of La Raza
(strange bedfellows!), and The National Rifle Assoc. If you go to C4 the website,
you will find sample letters to the IRS (or members of Congress) to raise your
objections to this latest regulation to chill free speech.
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