New nonprofit rule makes it easier for the public to engage in civic life

May 28, 2020 by AFP

This week the U.S. Treasury and IRS issued final regulations that will enable exempt nonprofits—including civil liberty organizations, faith-based groups, national issue organizations, and community groups—to protect the personal information of members who support them. Americans for Prosperity’s Brent Gardner issued the following statement:

All citizens should be able to join together to hold their government accountable. These reforms make it easier for Americans to support causes and join groups without being monitored and intimidated by those in power. When people are free to stand alongside others who share their deeply held beliefs, they’re able to amplify their individual voices—contributing to a diverse public square and continued social progress. We’re glad to see many leaders including Leader McConnell and Representatives Scalise and Brady, along with the Trump Administration, do the right thing.

Americans are rightly concerned that civic life is closed off by political corruption. Addressing that problem requires advocating civil liberties and increasing people’s ability to access their government without becoming targets for retaliation. AFP partners with a wide variety of organization to champions those ideals including:

Uniting with activist organizations as well as press freedom groups to strengthen protections for journalists, whistleblowers, activists, and other individuals speaking out on issues from so-called “SLAPP” lawsuits;
Raising concern with other immigration, tech, open government, and civil liberty organizations over DHS reportedly tracking and targeting journalists while covering the migrant caravan; and
Working alongside partners to require greater transparency from the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel that would allow for more oversight of legal memorandums that inform executive power.