Donate
Minnesota Voters Alliance is a 501(c)(4)
organization. Your contributions are appreciated
but not tax deductible.
| MVA Files IRS Complaint against the League of Women Voters |
| Tuesday, 14 September 2010 19:43 |
|
On September 14, 2010, the Minnesota Voters Alliance filed a Complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) asking it to determine whether the organizational structure and operations of the League of Women Voters United States (LWVUS) and the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF) are in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code governing charitable organizations. Our just-completed analysis of tax returns filed by the LWVUS and the LWVEF raises concerns about the independence of the LWV Education Fund from its parent lobbying organization, the LWV United States. The LWVUS is a lobbying organization that is tax exempt under section 501(c)(4) of the IRC, while the LWVEF is an educational organization whose contributions are eligible for tax deductibility under section 501(c)(3) of the IRC. The Complaint points out that the two organizations appear to, in fact, operate as a single entity with identical corporate boards, identical corporate officers, the same staff and employees, the same offices, shared expenses, the same website, and a common annual report with a consolidated financial statement. It appears that major activities of the LWVEF, including registering only certain selected sub-groups of voters, advocacy to protect voters’ rights, preventing disenfranchisement of specific voter populations, supporting litigation regarding North Carolina’s judicial public financing program, and collaborating on projects with the LWVUS, have the potential for being conducted in support of the legislative objectives of the LWVUS. The League constantly repeats its mantra of being "nonpartisan" in order to convince the public that it is neutral and objective and has no horse in the political races for which it manages debates. The LWV is actually, however, a political advocacy group that is one-sided in its political views, aligning strongly with Democratic Party positions on major issues such as taxes, healthcare, immigration, and abortion. The League plays a paramount role in electoral debates throughout the country, often influencing who is included in a debate, who asks the questions and what questions are asked, the order in which candidates respond, the venue, the rules for audience behavior, and other aspects of the debate. It is therefore crucial that the League be as open and transparent about who they are and what they stand for as they ask the candidates to be about their political positions. The Minnesota Voters Alliance calls on the League of Women Voters to state clearly, at each debate they are involved in, what policy positions they lobby for. The MVA also would like to see the League call on its directors and officers, as well as on League members who are involved in moderating or organizing debates, to disclose which, if any, candidates for public office and which PACs they or their spouses have made contributions to. It is notable that the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters Minnesota Education Fund, a tax-deductible (c)(3) organization, is a registered lobbyist in the state of Minnesota. Finally, we are not aware of any other nonprofit lobbying group that is organized and operates the way the League does and maintains its tax-deductible status.
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 September 2010 20:28 |
The Minnesota Voters Alliance (MVA) has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) asking it to review the appropriateness of the tax exempt status of the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF).Action Alert
Prevent Disenfranchisement!Poll
Results will be reported when polling ends.
Stay Connected
Free Newsletter
Our Main Goals
-
Protect the integrity of the vote through a photo I.D. requirement at the polls.
-
Stop Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). Despite proponent claims and media reports, the recent Supreme Court ruling DID NOT declare IRV to be constitutional.
-
Promote the preservation of our right to elect our Judges, which is now being threatened.
-
Restore partisan-basis municipal elections so each party can be represented.
We need to stop the erosion of our franchise rights.
Our surveys show that most voters said they had virtually "no clue" who they voted for in various municipal, school district and judicial elections.
In The Media
Andy Cilek appeared on the Jason Lewis Show on 8/24/2007.
Andy Cilek spoke with Joe Soucheray, on October 14th -2nd hour.
Andy talked with Don Shelby in December 2008.
Photo ID Support
“I support a photo ID requirement. ... Requiring one and giving it free of charge gives those at the poverty level a tool that enables them to independently participate in the economic process and the election process.”
- Andrew Young, former US State Rep, GA; Atlanta mayor and United States Ambassador
Voter Protection Pledge
"I pledge to the voters of the State of Minnesota that I will support all efforts to institute a requirement to show photo I.D. to access a ballot in any election for public office in the state."
The Minnesota Voters Alliance is sponsoring an initiative to request all 490 statewide candidates sign the above pledge to protect voters and the integrity of elections. (See current tally)