Gabby Gifford's group to return donations

[GeneCC]

Singer, actress and comedian Bette Midler took to Twitter on April 18 to promote Gabby Giffords’ new gun control effort.

“GABBY GIFFORDS SPEAKS, AND SHE IS FURIOUS!!” Midler wrote as she touted a New York Times opinion column authored by the former Arizona Democratic congresswoman who survived a 2011 shooting and has since launched an advocacy group that aims to curb gun violence.

Just weeks later, Midler upped the ante, donating $10,000 to Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC, the super PAC arm of Giffords’ group. The gift came from Midler’s private family foundation, according to campaign finance records.

Before the second quarter ended in June, another family foundation — the Rupa and Bharat B. Bhatt Foundation — contributed $5,000 to the group and the New England Congregational Church in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., gave $250.

They were modest contributions considering the group raised $6.6 million in the first half of 2013 — more than any other super PAC. But they were also strictly prohibited by the Internal Revenue Service.

Nonprofits organized under Sec. 501(c)(3) of the U.S. tax code are restricted from “directly or indirectly” intervening in political campaigns. And private foundations — such as the Midler and Bhatt foundations — are also prohibited from lobbying to influence legislation.

Since its creation in January, Americans for Responsible Solutions has urged Congress to enact more robust firearms background checks — and used television advertisements, radio spots and robo-calls to mobilize supporters, sometimes through its 501(c)(4) nonprofit arm and sometimes with its super PAC.

Americans for Responsible Solutions backed the bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa. And after that bill failed to clear a Republican-led filibuster in April, Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, pledged to “use every means possible to make sure the constituents of these senators know that their elected representatives ignored them.”

Tax experts told the Center for Public Integrity that foundation donations to Giffords’ super PAC could be “very problematic.”

Nonprofits organized under Sec. 501(c)(3) “cannot spend one penny” on partisan campaign activity, said Cleta Mitchell, an attorney in the Washington, D.C., office of Foley and Lardner LLP.

“You can’t give them money to do things that you can’t do,” she continued.

Political committees, such as super PACs, are “essentially radioactive” for 501(c)(3) nonprofits, added Marcus Owens, a lawyer at D.C.-based Caplin & Drysdale who previously headed the IRS's exempt organization division.

In response to questions from the Center for Public Integrity, Katie Hill, the communications director of Americans for Responsible Solutions, said the super PAC was in the process of refunding the other two nonprofits’ contributions.

“These are not illegal contributions for us to take, but it’s our understanding that the donations are not appropriate for the donors to make,” Hill wrote in an email. “Thus, we are processing refunds, which will be disclosed on our next report.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/...ation-donation

[GeneCC]

I bet Gabby's Outfit won't get jacked up by the IRS. We're all equal but some folks are more equal.

I mean, we know about the above donations. Were there any more such shaky donations?

[GeneCC]

Let's revisit this quote....

They were modest contributions considering the group raised $6.6 million in the first half of 2013 — more than any other super PAC.

Sure would like to know if I'm involuntarily donating to this witch and her space cadet hubby. Like, say, doing business with someone?

By the way, what in the Sam Hill is this crap?

Before the second quarter ended in June the New England Congregational Church in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., gave $250.

I wonder if everyone in that Church agreed with this "Contribution"? Kind of makes you wonder who calls the shots on such "donations" doesn't it?

Does your Church donate to gun control organizations too?

[GeneCC]

“These are not illegal contributions for us to take, but it’s our understanding that the donations are not appropriate for the donors to make,” Hill wrote in an email. “Thus, we are processing refunds, which will be disclosed on our next report.

OK... so when will Bette Midler, the Bhatt Family group and the New England Congregational Church be getting their IRS audit and be levied fines and penalties?

The US Surgeon General recommends that is hazardous to the health to hold your breath waiting for the same Agency which persecuted "Tea baggers" to be levying fines onto these three. Cause you'll die of asphyxia before it happens.

After all, this Outfit answers to the Chicago Thug who resides in the White Hut. Rule of Law, what rule of law?