Examiner Editorial Follows-Up On Foreign Donations

Last week I wrote in “Hidden Foreign Contributions Affect US Elections” about the lack of transparency to foreign donations to political campaigns and to non-profits that influence US political campaigns.

Today, the Examiner’s editorial takes up the need:

Whatever else might be said about federal campaign finance regulation, it’s impossible to argue against the positive effects of the increased transparency resulting from disclosure of the names and amounts of donors and recipients. But two yawning loopholes remain in the rules governing contributions to incumbents and challengers. Recipients are only required to disclose donations of $200 or more, and money given to tax-exempt foundations established by former officeholders does not have to be disclosed.

The Examiner doesn't go as far as my recommendation that all non-profits reveal their non-citizen donors, at least over $200, as many are actively involved in political advocacy and affect our elections. I concluded with something you can do about it:

A draft has been released of a revised IRS Form 990. It increases exposure on governance issues, but retains the shroud over contributors to non-profits. At the very least, foreign contributors should be revealed publicly, at least for amounts over the $200 of election laws.

You can send your comments to the IRS during the comment period. It’s as simple as an email to Form990Revision@irs.gov