Transparency Versus Privacy

The IRS regulates its taxation of non-profit organization under the designation 501(c). Charitable organizations are tax-exempt if they follow the rules of their 501(c)(3) status. And organizations that lobby legislatures must obey the stipulations of their 501(c)(4) status.

Now, apparently in response to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision that permits organizations to donate any amount of money to political candidates, some state legislators have passed laws requiring lobbying groups to reveal the sources of their money.

In other words, by law in some states, contributors to lobbyists must be named.

Naturally the enforcement of these laws poses a threat to organizations that have been targeted by hate groups. Naral Pro-Choice of New York, for instance, asked for an exception because its pro-abortion agenda makes it a target of violent protests. The legislature of New York State has granted them the exception, but not without a fight with Republicans who felt that it was special treatment for a liberal cause.

The issue comes down to one of transparency versus privacy. Groups like Naral fear not only that their contributors may become targets, but that as a result, their contributions may dry up. The public may have a right to know, but it also has a right to be safe from harassment.     See The New York Times article