SELLING AMERICA
Quick . . . Incorporate!
takes so little time
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.. We just got a letter from the governor of the State of Montana. Pick your own devil.
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Dear
Guy:
Today, I sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Treasury
Department over their recent decision to
abandon disclosure requirements for major donors to dark money groups.
I
have fought for nearly a decade to end the disastrous Citizens United decision
that opened the floodgates for corporate spending in our elections. Before the IRS
decision last week, 501(c) groups had to tell the IRS who their major donors
were. In a post Citizens United world, the best way to know whether a group is
what it says it is, or the agenda they support, is to look at where the group’s
money comes from.
Last
week, the IRS announced they were getting rid of disclosure requirements for a
subset of tax exempt 501(c) groups. In particular, they said that 501(c)(4)
groups will no longer have to disclose who their donors are. 501(c)(4) groups
are the “dark money” organizations used for funneling secret money in
elections. With this change, there’s even less transparency over these
organizations and less ability to determine if they are acting lawfully.
We’re coming up on important midterm election in Montana.
The IRS, and the administration, are sending absolutely the wrong message at
the wrong time: spend money to get corporate interests elected, and we’ll work
to cover your tracks. Well, I say not on my watch.
Our suit
alleges that the IRS’s change to disclosure laws were unlawful and outside the
agency’s authority. The case represents the first legal challenge to the IRS’s
action since it was announced last week. This suit seeks to block the Trump
Administration from upending the rules that have been in place for almost 50
years that require 501(c) dark money groups to disclose their major donors to
the IRS. Absent that disclosure, so-called social welfare groups could be
taking unlimited corporate, or even foreign, contributions to influence
elections, contrary to the requirements that grant them tax exempt status.
When the federal government makes big changes that
have been in place since Nixon was President, it has to follow the rules. The
IRS didn’t follow the rules, so we’re suing to enforce them.
I believe Montanans deserve a government that works for them, and only for them. I will not stop fighting to end dark money in our elections and return government back to the people. Sincerely,
STEVE BULLOCK
Governor
I believe Montanans deserve a government that works for them, and only for them. I will not stop fighting to end dark money in our elections and return government back to the people. Sincerely,
STEVE BULLOCK
Governor