[Boatanchors] ARRL Lobby

Tue, 5 Aug 2003 16:04:46 -0400

I was unaware of this limitation, but it makes sense - the feds don't want
to make it easy for individuals to have "access".

Maybe the ARRL could launch a non-tax-exempt group that will engage in the
necessary poli-ticking to get things done?

-m-

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of W2AGN
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 15:07
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: [Boatanchors] ARRL Lobby

I did a little research on this "lobbying" question. First:

"The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 
organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. 
Under Internal Revenue Service guidelines, the estimated value of any 
benefits you may receive in exchange for a contribution of $250 or more 
must be deducted from the amount of your contribution to determine the 
tax-deductible amount."

Now, that means according to the law.

"Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations categorized under IRC 501(c)(3) in 
federal law [i.e. 26 USC 501(c)(3)] are generally permitted to "lobby" to 
some extent, but are absolutely prohibited from engaging in "political 
activity." The distinction between these two activities is crucial, but 
not always simple to make. Under federal law (IRC 501), lobbying to an 
extent beyond an "insubstantial" amount is only permitted by IRC 
501(c)(3) organizations that may and do elect to qualify under the IRC 
501(h) rules, which provides strict financial limits for lobbying 
expenditures. Violation of the laws and regulations controlling lobbying 
and political activity can result in any or all of: fines (in the form of 
excise taxes) against the organization, personal fines against 
organization managers, and loss of federal tax-exemption recognition." 

So the ARRL is hamstrung because of their tax-exempt status. Again, the 
comparison made with the NRA, which chooses to FULLY represent its 
members and is NOT a tax exempt organization is valid. 
---
+-++-++-++-++-+   John L. Sielke
|W||2||A||G||N|        http://www.w2agn.net [UPDATED]
+-++-++-++-++-+    Ex-K3HLU,TF2WKT,W7JEF,W4MPC,N4JS

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