Front Groups Lobbying Spurs Thoughts of Non-Profit Reform [1]
Submitted by Bob Burton [2] on
Citing instances where groups like Citizens Against Government Waste [3] and Americans for Tax Reform [4] have accepted corporate funding to lobby for their donors' causes, journalist Bill Adair explores whether greater disclosure by non-profit groups is warranted. Between them, the two groups have taken money from the tobacco industry [5], helped avocado growers and assisted in Jack Abramoff [6]'s lobbying efforts. The incoming Democratic Party chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus [7], has flagged the need for change: "Nonprofits should not function as de facto lobbying firms." Current federal laws he said are "simply too murky." Frances Hill, a law professor at the University of Miami, agrees. "It seems to me we have to find a way to increase the disclosure of the contributors. I'm not talking about every church in America disclosing who gives money to their collection plate. But there's got to be a way to show who gives big chunks of money," she said.