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In reply to the discussion: How is it that the Heritage Foundation under it's 501(c)3 is a tax exempt business? [View all]hay rick
(7,588 posts)30. Folks at the IRS want to keep their jobs.
They have the authority to enforce a stricter standard, but not the will. All of the Republicans, the administration, and many other Democrats are beholden to rich, anonymous donors. Money talks, principle walks.
Bill Moyers weighs in here: http://billmoyers.com/2013/05/22/six-facts-lost-in-the-irs-scandal/
Of the more than $256 million spent by social welfare nonprofits on ads in the 2012 elections, at least 80 percent came from conservative groups, according to FEC figures tallied by the Center for Responsive Politics.
None came from the Tea Party groups with applications flagged by the IRS. Instead, a few big conservative groups were largely responsible.
Crossroads GPS, which this week said it believes it is among the conservative groups targeted by the IRS, spent more than $70 million in federal races in 2012. Americans for Prosperity, the social welfare nonprofit launched by the conservative billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, spent more than $36 million. American Future Fund spent more than $25 million. Americans for Tax Reform spent almost $16 million. American Action Network spent almost $12 million.
Besides Crossroads GPS, each of those groups has applied to the IRS and been recognized as tax-exempt. (You can look at their applications here.)
None came from the Tea Party groups with applications flagged by the IRS. Instead, a few big conservative groups were largely responsible.
Crossroads GPS, which this week said it believes it is among the conservative groups targeted by the IRS, spent more than $70 million in federal races in 2012. Americans for Prosperity, the social welfare nonprofit launched by the conservative billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, spent more than $36 million. American Future Fund spent more than $25 million. Americans for Tax Reform spent almost $16 million. American Action Network spent almost $12 million.
Besides Crossroads GPS, each of those groups has applied to the IRS and been recognized as tax-exempt. (You can look at their applications here.)
Bottom line: the Republicans stand to benefit from non-enforcement. Ditto Third-Way Democrats. Of the 72 Tea Party Groups who had their 501c4 applications held up for further scrutiny, zero were denied the exemption. The Moyer article also documents how many of the applying groups simply lie about the nature of their activities. The administration turns a blind eye...
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How is it that the Heritage Foundation under it's 501(c)3 is a tax exempt business? [View all]
kimbutgar
May 2013
OP