Monthly Archives: July 2012

Southampton Patch: Protesters Crash Mitt Romney’s Hamptons Fundraiser

Police barricade keeps Progressives, Occupy groups far from $50,000-a-plate dinner at David Koch's mansion.

-By Raun Norquist and Daniel Gonzalez

July 8, 2012- A blockade of local police, New York State troopers, a canine unit and federal authorities rushed in Sunday to keep several hundred protesters from disturbing billionaire David Koch's $50,000-per-person fundraiser for Gov. Mitt Romney's presidential run.

The dissenters gathered across from Coopers Beach, arriving by car, bike, taxi and bus from New York City, and as far away as Norway. The crowd represented many activist groups, including Occupy Wall Street, MoveOn.org, Occupy the Hamptons, the Long Island Progressive Coalition, Service Employees International Union, Long Island Jobs with Justice, Greenpeace, Strong Economy for All Coalition, United New York, Suffolk Peace Network, Art Not War, Occupy Huntington, Align NY, NY Communities for Change, NYACLU, plus many unaffiliated people who wanted to have their voices heard. “Dissent IS Patriotic” was seen on many signs, banners and T-shirts.

Why are the Koch Brothers Betting on Mitt Romney?

David Koch is hosting a fundraiser for millionaire Mitt Romney at his Hamptons estate this weekend. What do they want in return for all this fundraising?

DNC Video "Why are the Koch Brothers Betting on Mitt Romney?" 

Truthout: ALEC Accused of Violating Its Tax-Exempt Status; Will the IRS Take Action?

-By Jason Leopold

July 5, 2012- Will the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) launch an investigation into the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the corporate-backed "nonpartisan" "stealth business lobbyist" group that has been accused of flouting civil and criminal tax laws?

That's the obvious question to ask after a prominent Washington, DC-based tax attorney, acting at the behest of one of his clients, sent the IRS a 30-page complaint two weeks ago, following a months-long exhaustive study of ALEC's tax filings, expenditures and public reports about its political activities. The study contained dozens of new examples of how ALEC, whose board is made up entirely of Republican lawmakers, has violated its tax-exempt status.

Think Progress: Top Former Tax Code Enforcer Files Letter Asking IRS To Strip ALEC’s Non-Profit Status

-By Ian Millhiser

July 2, 2012- The American Legislative Exchange Council, a right-wing group responsible for state voter suppression laws, “stand your ground” laws and other far right initiatives, is a 501(c)(3) organization — meaning that it does not pay taxes and that its donors can deduct any donations they make to the organization from their taxable income. Thus, we the taxpayers essentially subsidize ALEC’s right-wing lobbying because the amount of money in the public treasury is reduced in order to pay for ALEC’s activities.