In a country where corporations are 'people', political groups are deemed 'social welfare organizations'
Groups’ Campaign Spending Scrutinized in New York
By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE, NYT
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman of New York is escalating his inquiry into the fastest-growing but darkest corner of the campaign world, requesting in recent weeks tax returns and other financial documents from dozens of tax-exempt groups that are among the biggest spenders in this year’s election, people with knowledge of the requests said.
Close to two dozen such groups have already received Mr. Schneiderman’s requests, including three major Republican-affiliated groups, Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, co-founded by the political strategist Karl Rove; American Action Network; and American Future Fund. The office has also requested information from Democratic groups, including Priorities USA Action, which was founded by two former aides to President Obama; Patriot Majority USA; and America Votes.
The requests appear to be an early but aggressive step by Mr. Schneiderman’s office to curtail the intense secrecy enveloping these groups, which are playing a pivotal role in this year’s battle for the White House and Congress yet are free from virtually all of the rules and restrictions that apply to candidates and “super PACs.”
Organized as tax-exempt “social welfare” organizations, they have spent heavily on issue ads against President Obama, Mitt Romney and other elected officials and are rapidly eclipsing super PACs as the chief outside spenders in the 2012 elections. But because they purport to engage in educational, not political, activity, tax-exempt groups do not have to disclose their donors, which is required of super PACs, candidates and political parties.
(More here.)
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman of New York is escalating his inquiry into the fastest-growing but darkest corner of the campaign world, requesting in recent weeks tax returns and other financial documents from dozens of tax-exempt groups that are among the biggest spenders in this year’s election, people with knowledge of the requests said.
Close to two dozen such groups have already received Mr. Schneiderman’s requests, including three major Republican-affiliated groups, Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies, co-founded by the political strategist Karl Rove; American Action Network; and American Future Fund. The office has also requested information from Democratic groups, including Priorities USA Action, which was founded by two former aides to President Obama; Patriot Majority USA; and America Votes.
The requests appear to be an early but aggressive step by Mr. Schneiderman’s office to curtail the intense secrecy enveloping these groups, which are playing a pivotal role in this year’s battle for the White House and Congress yet are free from virtually all of the rules and restrictions that apply to candidates and “super PACs.”
Organized as tax-exempt “social welfare” organizations, they have spent heavily on issue ads against President Obama, Mitt Romney and other elected officials and are rapidly eclipsing super PACs as the chief outside spenders in the 2012 elections. But because they purport to engage in educational, not political, activity, tax-exempt groups do not have to disclose their donors, which is required of super PACs, candidates and political parties.
(More here.)
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