In the shadow of the scandal over the
targeting of Tea Party and other conservative groups, the Internal
Revenue Service on Tuesday announced new regulations curbing the
political activity of tax-exempt groups.
The new restrictions would prohibit
such groups from backing candidates, making political pronouncements 60
days before an election and participating in get-out-the-vote drives.
Advocates for conservative organizations litigating against the IRS’ scrutiny say the new rules are an attack on free speech.
“It is never a positive when the
government gets involved in regulating political speech,” Cleta
Mitchell, a Washington-based attorney, told TheBlaze. “Remember the
first five words of the First Amendment: ‘Congress shall make no law.’”
Mitchell is representing True the Vote
and other conservative groups suing the IRS over targeting, which the
agency has admitted to.
Mitchell said the rules should be more narrow and defined.
“If you think this somehow will stop
the IRS from arbitrary enforcement, labor unions spent $4.4 billion
between 2006 and 2011 on political activities,” Mitchell said. “Do you
think the IRS has done any enforcement about that? I don’t think so.”
More @ The Blaze
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