This has always confused me. Can an organization say, "these are the positions of a candidate" or "these are the candidates who support our position and these are the candidates who don't" without violating the IRS code? It seems clear that they shouldn't be setting up speaking gigs as an organization if they are related to the campaign. However, if they ask Dean or anyone else to speak to them about the ISSUE, they are okay, right? Can they ask ALL the candidates to come speak to them, or is that a violation too? It's never been clear to me, and we see different examples of 501C3's doing all sorts of things. There must be rulings on this, does anyone know? diane wiley, who loves both Dean and CPRT and doesn't want to see them get hurt
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Eva Young Sent: Mon 9/5/2005 6:00 PM To: [email protected] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Ken Avidor finds IRS violation by Citizens for PRT Ken Avidor is now a contributor at Lloydletta's Nooz. Ken wrote a series about the Citizens for PRT breaking IRS law. Eva Young Lloydletta's Nooz http://lloydletta.blogspot.com The Citizens for Personal Rapid Transit (CPRT) say on their website that they are a 501(c)3 Non-profit organization. In their July Newsletter they ask their membership to help several candidates for Minneapolis City Council: SOS from Minneapolis City Councilman Dean Zimmermann won a seat on the Minneapolis City Council on the Green Party ticket back in 2002. One of his central themes is to establish a PRT system throughout his ward in South Minneapolis and eventually throughout the whole city. Dean has been tireless in advocating for PRT in many different venues, including at the state legislature. Dean is asking us to line up groups for him to speak to about PRT. He has a wonderful presentation that features his 68-station map of greater downtown Minneapolis, showing how PRT would serve the area and enhance other forms of transit like the light rail system and bicycle trails. Dean serves Ward 6 of the city of Minneapolis, which includes Whittier, Ventura Village, Phillips, and parts of Stevens Square, Loring Heights, Cedar-Riverside, and Prospect Park neighborhoods. Please help find Dean some speaking engagements. For more information about Dean Zimmermann and what he stands for, see his website, www.votedeanzimmermann.org. (He is in a tight race for his City Council seat since the city was redistricted. Editor.) Councilman Zimmermann also reports that Aaron Neuman, a Green Party candidate for Ward 3, is a strong PRT supporter. His website is www.voteneumann.org. It is time to get acquainted! (This just in: Dave Bicking is entering the City Council race in Ward 9 and supports PRT as well! Editor.) ------------------------------- Avidor- The problem is a 501(c)3 Non-profit is not allowed to be involved in elections...according to the IRS rules, <http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=120703,00.html>they are very strict about this: Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise tax. ------------------------------- Did the CPRT Break IRS law? You tell us! More on this at Lloydletta's Nooz here: <http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/did-prt-proponents-break-law->http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/did-prt-proponents-break-law-part-one.html <http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/did-prt-proponents-break-law->http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/did-prt-proponents-break-law-you.html <http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/did-prt-proponents-break-law->http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/did-prt-proponents-break-law-part.html <http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/cprt-did-they-break-law-part-4->http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/cprt-did-they-break-law-part-4-it-is.html Eva Young Near North Minneapolis [EMAIL PROTECTED] Lloydletta's Nooz http://lloydletta.blogspot.com Dump Michele Bachmann http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759, US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790) http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/1381.html REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
