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Brady Campaign's questionable tax reporting
From the Public Citizen's webpage on "stealth PACs":
"The group lists the election of pro-gun-control officials among its objectives.2 During the 2002 election cycle, the Brady Campaign disseminated communications involving at least three political contests.3In the Michigan congressional primary pitting Democratic Reps. John Dingell and Lynn Rivers, the Brady Campaign spent a reported $18,000 on a radio ad attacking Dingell’s gun safety record. ... The Brady Campaign and Million Moms March also launched an anti-gun, anti-Dingell Web site during the campaign, www.DingellandGuns.com.4
In 2002, the Brady Campaign also ran ads attacking Maryland Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Ehrlich5 and distributed direct mail and telemarketing messages favoring Missouri Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan in her failed bid for re-election.6
The group reported to the IRS that it had zero political expenditures in each year from 2000 to 2002. 7 In effect, the group claimed that none of its communications were intended to influence the outcomes of elections.8
In 2003, the Brady Campaign's PAC was fined $26,000 by the Federal Election Commission for failing to properly disclose $200,000 it spent on mailings in 2000 opposing two Republican House candidates, Reps. Ernest Fletcher (R-Ky.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).9
It looks as if the Million Moms March may have had similar problems with its tax status.
Just to make sure that you know that Brady is a 501 (c) (4) so it can do some things but it looks they are pushing it too far.
From:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-tege/eotopici03.pdf
look under “Social Welfare” and “Charity”
Organizations exempt under IRC 501(c)(4) may engage in germane lobbying activities without the restrictions imposed on IRC 501(c)(3) organizations.
Since the test for exemption under IRC 501(c)(4) looks to the organization's primary activities, an organization exempt under IRC 501(c)(4) may engage in substantial non-exempt activities. In contrast, under the reasoning of Better Business Bureau v. United