Leftist Dark Money Groups Silent on Donor Disclosure Despite Support for H.R. 1, Election Transparency

Gun News

[ad_1]

Leftist dark money groups such as the Sixteen Thirty Fund, New Venture Fund, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), and others have remained silent on calls to disclose their donors even though they have publicly backed legislation that would provide for the disclosure of dark money groups’ donors and made public statements calling for donor transparency.

Breitbart News reported that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has served as one of the most vocal Democrat critics of “dark money’s” influence in politics, but the Rhode Island Democrat appears to be a significant beneficiary of dark money.

The national conversation over the allegedly nefarious influences of dark money also extends to many leftist groups — such as the Sixteen Thirty Fund, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the LCV, Sierra Club, Majority Foward, and the Environmental Defense Action Fund — which have supported H.R. 1, the For the People Act. Other organizations have supported campaign finance and election transparency reform.

H.R. 1 appears to remove a provision that restrained the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from targeting tax-exempt organizations, which was enacted after the tax agency targeted many conservative organizations’ tax-exempt statuses in 2013. Generally speaking, tax-exempt political organizations do not want to disclose their donors to avoid harassment from political activists; however, given that these organizations have announced their support of the For the People Act, Breitbart News contacted them to see if they would support disclosing their donors and disclose all of their donors over $1,000 in the name of transparency. Breitbart News also contacted New Venture Fund and Demand Justice.

Sixteen Thirty Fund

The Sixteen Thirty Fund is a leftist nonprofit in Washington, DC, that spent $141 million on more than “100 left-leaning causes” during the 2018 midterm elections. The Fund’s efforts included fighting Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, blocking confirmation of Donald Trump nominees, and boosting reforms on voting laws and districting in several states.

The Arabella Advisors, a D.C.-based consulting firm that caters to left-leaning clients, administers the Sixteen Thirty Fund and the New Venture Fund.

Sixteen Thirty Fund’s activism was funded by massive “anonymous donations, including one gift totaling $51.7 million.” A second high-rolling donor gave the organization $26.7 million, and a third gave them $10 million.

Despite revealing the three highest donation amounts, Sixteen Thirty Fund has not revealed who gave them those amounts or their other top donors’ identities.

“That single donation was more than the group had ever raised before in an entire year before President Donald Trump was elected. Most of the group’s funders are likely to remain a mystery because federal law does not require ‘social welfare’-focused nonprofits to reveal their donors,” Politico wrote in 2019.

Politico speculated on the Fund’s close ties to the Arabella Advisors, a firm that advises donors and nonprofits and was founded by Clinton administration staffer Eric Kessler.

Failed presidential candidate and billionaire leftist donor Michael Bloomberg gave $250,000 to a super PAC affiliated with the Sixteen Thirty Fund.

The Democracy Alliance, which is affiliated with billionaire George Sorors, recommended that donors invest millions into the Sixteen Thirty Fund.

Amy Kurtz, the fund’s executive director, when asked by RealClearPolitics if she supports the enactment of donor disclosure as proscribed by the For the People Act and other similar bills, said, “We have lobbied in favor of reform to the current campaign finance system. But we remain equally committed to following the current laws to level the playing field for progressives.”

Despite Kurtz’s equivocation about if her organization would support donor disclosure provisions in H.R. 1, the Sixteen Thirty Fund told the Hawaii state government it would not disclose their donors if they are guaranteed confidentiality.

The fund wrote to the state government:

Federal Law permits non-profit organizations to keep their donors confidential and not to disclose them. While the IRS does require some disclosure of donors on Schedule B of the 990, it is not all donors. While Sixteen Thirty Fund can and does provide Schedule B from its 990 to several states, it does so only when subject to a commitment of confidentiality by the State. Sixteen Thirty Fund will not disclose its donors beyond what is required on Schedule B and will only share that information with regulators if confidentiality of that information is guaranteed.

The Sixteen Thirty Fund did not respond to Breitbart News’s comment request on if they would disclose their donors.

New Venture Fund

The New Venture Fund is a leftist nonprofit that makes grants and incubates other left-of-center organizations. It operates alongside its 501(c)(4) sister organization, the Sixteen Thirty Fund.

The organization did not respond to Breitbart News’s request for comment.

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a member of the Declaration for American Democracy coalition, which advocates for H.R. 1 and other election transparency reforms.

The election reform coalition believes that the For the People Act would “put ordinary Americans ahead of Big Money donors.”

Planned Parenthood did not respond to Breitbart News’s request for comment about if they would disclose their donors in the interest of transparency.

Center for American Progress (CAP)

The Center for American Progress labels itself as an “independent nonpartisan policy institute” that aims to enact “bold, progressive ideas.”

CAP has frequently written about the allegedly negative influences of dark money, although they have focused primarily on conservative and Republican organizations such as the National Rifle Association (NRA).

CAP has written op-eds about how “dark money” is poisoning”American democracy.”

This raises the question of whether CAP is a dark money organization given that they have not fully disclosed their donors.

In February, a CAP official told Politico that the group is not a dark money organization and that they allegedly disclose their donors on its website.

However, despite the CAP official’s claim, CAP Action Fund neglected to disclose some of their most significant donors in 2019, including:

  • One donation of $1 million or more donation
  • Two donors gave between $500 and $999,999
  • Seven donors gave between $100,000 to $499,999
  • Two donors gave between $50,000 to $99,999
  • Two donors gave between $5,000 to $49,999

In response to Breitbart News’s comment request, a CAP official pointed to their list of 501(c)(3) donors, which discloses some but not all of their donors.

CAP’s most generous donors, or those that donated over $1 million in 2019, include:

  1. Carnegie Corporation of New York
  2. Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
  3. Foundation to Promote Open Society
  4. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
  5. The Hutchins Family Foundation
  6. Jonathan and Jeannie Lavine Family Fund
  7. Lawrence Linden
  8. Eric and Stacey Mindich
  9. Sandler Foundation

Many of their most significant donors, however, remain anonymous. This includes:

  • Five donations of $1 million or more
  • Two donations between $500,000 and $999,999
  • Seven donations between $100,000 and $499,999
  • Three donations between $50,000 and $99,999
  • 13 donations between $5,000 and $49,999

The CAP official did not respond to a subsequent request for comment as to why they keep these 501(c)(3) donations anonymous.

League of Conservation Voters 

The LCV is an environmentalist group that also promotes an environmentalist agenda.

The LCV almost exclusively endorses Democrats over Republicans. The LCV has endorsed Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for president.

The LCV sent a letter to the House in January urging the lower chamber to pass the Democrats’ marquee legislation.

In the letter, the environmentalist group called for greater transparency, writing that H.R. 1 would “strengthen voting rights, increase transparency and fairness in our campaign finance system.” The group also noted that the For the People Act would ensure that the “people’s voice, rather than outsized corporate influence, guide our elected officials.”

However, despite the LCV’s support of H.R.1, LCV has not responded as to whether they would disclose their donors.

Sierra Club 

The Sierra Club is another environmentalist activist organization that supports H.R. 1.

Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released a statement after Democrats unveiled the legislation in January in support of donor disclosure and attacking dark money. Brune said:

The For the People Act proposes the necessary and commonsense reforms that will help reign in the undue influence of dark money in our elections, expand access to the ballot box, and increase ways the American people can hold our elected officials accountable. The Sierra Club applauds Speaker Pelosi and Representative Sarbanes for their visionary leadership toward a stronger, equitable democracy, and we are proud to rise with our allies across the movement in support of transformative government reforms and H.R. 1.

The Sierra Club also noted in their press release that it would curb the “undue influence of corporate polluters.”

The Sierra Club did not respond to Breitbart News’s request for comment on whether they would support disclosing their donors.

Majority Foward

Majority Foward is a leftist activist organization that supports “voter registration and voter turnout efforts. Our primary mission is to encourage full participation by voters in our election process.”

The organization is also affiliated with Senate Majority PAC, which is run by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

Majority Forward ran an ad criticizing Republicans for blocking legislation that passed through the House, which includes H.R. 1.

Majority Forward did not respond to a comment request from Breitbart News on disclosing their donors after they have supported H.R. 1.

Demand Justice

Demand Justice is a leftist organization seeking a leftward balance in the courts. The organization has held Democrat primary presidential forums in which Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called for passing H.R. 1.

Demand Justice is a project of the Sixteen Thirty Fund and serves as part of a leftist coalition to support packing the Supreme Court with additional justices.

Demand Justice did not respond to Breitbart News’s request for comment on whether they would support disclosing their donors.

Environmental Defense Action Fund (EDF Action)

The EDF is another environmentalist action organization that supports election transparency. The organization announced its support for H.R. 1 in January, claiming the legislation would curb the energy industry’s alleged outsized influence in D.C.

EDF Action senior vice president of political affairs said in a statement in January:

Climate progress depends on a working democracy. That’s why EDF Action is supporting reforms that will strengthen the power of the people. For far too long, money has played an outsized role in Washington, giving too much power to those who profit from polluting sources of energy and oppose bold action on climate change. We need to take this first step of comprehensive democracy reforms so we can ensure that the environmental concerns in every community are not only heard but legislative action is taken to solve these critical problems facing our country.

With the reforms included in the For the People Act, we can make voting more accessible so that every eligible voter is able to cast a ballot without interference, actively participate in our democracy and advocate for commonsense legislation that helps to clean up our air and water while fighting for a healthier planet.

EDF Action did not respond to a request for comment from Breitbart News about disclosing their donors given that they support H.R. 1.

The Americans for Public Trust (APT), a nonprofit dedicated to revealing unethical behavior, released an ad in February noting that many prominent Joe Biden administration members came from leftist dark money organizations.

This includes:

  • Ron Klain, a Center for American Progress board member, who became Biden’s chief of staff.
  • Gina McCarthy, who worked at National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and became a climate adviser to the Biden administration.

One-hundred and forty-five million dollars in dark money went to supporting Biden’s presidential bid, and $345 million went towards aiding Democrats during the 2020 election. In contrast, Republicans only received $145 million in 2020.

Caitlin Sutherland, the Americans for Public Trust’s executive director, told Breitbart News in a comment Friday that these leftist groups have displayed hypocrisy by refusing to disclose their donors while backing donor disclosure.

“This is just another example of rules for thee, not for me coming from dark money groups and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Even the administration refuses to answer if the new pro-Biden dark money group should disclose its donors,” Sutherland said. “And this all comes after President Biden started paying back the dark money groups that got him elected in the first place. Do they truly want to disclose their donors while the payout continues? I guess we will find out.”

Sean Moran is a congressional reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.



[ad_2]

Source link

Articles You May Like

Florida lawmaker moves to lower gun purchase age as Supreme Court weighs case
Florida bill aims to let 18-year-olds buy firearms again
Florida House Rep proposes reduced gun age law for fourth straight year
Lower gun buying age sought
Would America Be Safer Without the Second Amendment?

166 Comments

  1. 983612 550336Whoa! This weblog looks just like my old one! Its on a totally different topic but it has pretty a lot exactly the same layout and style. Outstanding choice of colors! 63393

  2. 404813 63794We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your internet site given us with valuable data to function on. Youve done an impressive job and our entire community is going to be grateful to you. 306913

  3. 475859 904344magnificent post, extremely informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector do not notice this. You ought to continue your writing. Im certain, youve a great readers base already! 84444

  4. 91684 274798Thanks for the auspicious writeup. It really used to be a leisure account it. Glance complicated to much more delivered agreeable from you! However, how can we be in contact? 568532

  5. 590041 35590Someone essentially assist to make severely posts I may well state. That will be the extremely first time I frequented your internet site page and so far? I surprised with the analysis you created to create this certain submit incredible. Magnificent task! 20572

  6. 213289 333379Someone necessarily assist to make critically articles Id state. This really is the very first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the analysis you produced to make this actual submit incredible. Exceptional activity! 647672

  7. 178152 622751Was koche ich heute – diese Frage stellen sich tag fuer tag viele Menschen. Und wir haben tag fuer tag die perfeckte Antwort darauf! Besuchen Sie uns auf unserer Webseite und lassen Sie sich von uns beraten . Wir freuen uns auf Sie! 530596

  8. Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too wonderful. I really like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is actually a great website.

  9. Greetings! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I truly enjoy reading through your articles. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects? Thanks a lot!

  10. I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i’m glad to exhibit that I have a very good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I so much indisputably will make certain to don?t forget this web site and give it a look on a continuing basis.

  11. Aw, this was an extremely nice post. Finding the time and actual effort to make a great article but what can I say I procrastinate a lot and never seem to get anything done.

  12. Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group? There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Thank you

  13. This is very fascinating, You are an excessively professional blogger. I have joined your feed and sit up for looking for more of your fantastic post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks

  14. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is great blog. An excellent read. I’ll definitely be back.

  15. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your site. You have some really great posts and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an e-mail if interested. Regards!

  16. hey there and thank you for your information I’ve definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues using this web site, since I experienced to reload the web site many times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I’m adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this again soon.

  17. Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Thank you, However I am experiencing issues with your RSS. I don’t know why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anybody else getting identical RSS problems? Anyone who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx!!

  18. I appreciate, cause I found exactly what I used to be taking a look for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye

  19. I was very pleased to find this site. I wanted to thank you for your time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely savored every bit of it and I have you book marked to check out new stuff on your blog.

  20. You’ve made some decent points there. I looked on the web to learn more about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this website.

  21. I get pleasure from, cause I found exactly what I used to be taking a look for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye

  22. Woah! I’m really enjoying the template/theme of this website. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and visual appeal. I must say you have done a awesome job with this. Additionally, the blog loads extremely fast for me on Internet explorer. Superb Blog!

  23. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this superb blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

  24. My coder is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on several websites for about a year and am anxious about switching to another platform. I have heard excellent things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress content into it? Any kind of help would be really appreciated!

  25. Hello there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!

  26. I simply could not depart your web site prior to suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard information a person supply in your visitors? Is going to be back frequently in order to check up on new posts

  27. Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions? Appreciate it

  28. Hello there, simply turned into aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate in case you continue this in future. A lot of other people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  29. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

  30. Having read this I thought it was very informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this short article together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!

  31. My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find a lot of your post’s to be exactly I’m looking for. Do you offer guest writers to write content for you? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating on most of the subjects you write concerning here. Again, awesome weblog!

  32. I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem. You are wonderful! Thanks!

  33. Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear concept

  34. Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Thanks, However I am experiencing issues with your RSS. I don’t know why I can’t subscribe to it. Is there anyone else getting identical RSS problems? Anybody who knows the solution will you kindly respond? Thanx!!

  35. My brother suggested I might like this website. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

  36. great submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this sector do not realize this. You should continue your writing. I am sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!

  37. A person necessarily lend a hand to make significantly articles I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this actual post amazing. Fantastic activity!

  38. Нужна стяжка пола в Москве, но вы не знаете, как выбрать подрядчика? Обратитесь к нам на сайт styazhka-pola24.ru! Мы предлагаем услуги по устройству стяжки пола любой площади и сложности, а также гарантируем доступные цены и высокое качество работ.

  39. I’m not sure why but this site is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this issue or is it a problem on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.

  40. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your weblog. You have some really great posts and I think I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some material for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please blast me an e-mail if interested. Kudos!

  41. Улучшайте интерьер дома с mehanizirovannaya-shtukaturka-moscow.ru. Машинная штукатурка поможет перемены быстро и без лишних усилий.

  42. It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

  43. An interesting discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to write more on this issue, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people don’t discuss such subjects. To the next! Cheers!!

  44. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this site before but after browsing through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely pleased I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back regularly!

  45. Simply wish to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness in your post is simply nice and i can assume you are an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the rewarding work.

  46. I like the valuable information you supply on your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and test again here frequently. I am slightly certain I will be told plenty of new stuff right here! Good luck for the following!

  47. I was wondering if you ever considered changing the layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two images. Maybe you could space it out better?

  48. What i do not realize is in reality how you’re now not really a lot more well-appreciated than you may be right now. You are so intelligent. You recognize therefore significantly in terms of this matter, produced me personally consider it from numerous various angles. Its like men and women aren’t interested unless it’s something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs great. Always maintain it up!

  49. I don’t know if it’s just me or if everyone else experiencing problems with your blog. It appears like some of the text within your posts are running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too? This might be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen before. Thank you

  50. Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the internet the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

  51. Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on sites I stumbleupon every day. It will always be exciting to read content from other writers and practice a little something from their sites.

  52. Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice even as you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a applicable deal. I were tiny bit familiar of this your broadcast provided brilliant transparent concept

  53. Greetings I am so glad I found your website, I really found you by mistake, while I was searching on Askjeeve for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say thanks a lot for a remarkable post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I dont have time to read through it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the fantastic b.

  54. What i do not realize is actually how you’re not really a lot more smartly-favored than you may be right now. You are so intelligent. You recognize therefore significantly relating to this topic, produced me in my opinion believe it from so many various angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be fascinated unless it’s something to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs excellent. All the time care for it up!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *