Policy Update

Nonprofits Registering Voters Face New Restrictions

6/13/2006

Source: OMB Watcher

Nonprofits Registering Voters Face New Restrictions (http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3466/1/450)
A growing number of nonprofit organizations in states across the country are finding new rules make it difficult or impossible to continue their nonpartisan voter registration efforts. In Florida, the League of Women Voters and a host of other groups have sued the state to stop enforcement of rules that make such voter registration drives substantially more difficult and risky.

Lobby Reform Update  (http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3462/1/450)
Although GOP leaders are promising a final lobby reform package by the July 4 recess, a group of Republican Senators has broken rank and is threatening to filibuster the lobby reform conference report if it includes a provision expanding regulation of independent 527 organizations.

FEC Won't Change 527 Rules This Year  (http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3464/1/450)
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) on May 31 announced it will provide a better explanation and clear justification of its 2004 rule limiting regulation of 527 independent political committees. The move can in response to a court order that calling on the FEC to either explain the rule or open up a new rulemaking providing more limits. The timing for the FEC action is not clear.

Federal Court Rules Against Taxpayer-Funded Religious Programs for Inmates  (http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/3463/1/450)
A federal judge has ruled that an evangelical Christian program operating in an Iowa state prison promotes religion with state funds, in violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. The court ordered the program to reimburse the government $1.5 million.