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FSC considers the following to be the top ten
threats to freedom of speech and First Amendment
rights of nonprofits and agencies:
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1.
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Campaign reform bills which contain provisions
which would violate freedom of speech and other
constitutional rights.
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2.
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Legislation and regulations that would
unconstitutionally restrict issue advocacy.
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3.
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Legislation requiring disclosure of the names of
donors or members of advocacy organizations.
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4.
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Congressional hearings and subpoenas that would
unlawfully require nonprofits or agencies to
disclose confidential information.
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5.
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Federal regulations that violate the
Constitution and laws of the United States (e.g.,
most of the Federal Election Commission's proposed
new definitions of "member" for associations with
connected PACs).
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6.
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Accounting standards governing the reporting of
joint fundraising costs that require nonprofits to
misrepresent fundraising expenditures.
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7.
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IRS efforts to retroactively hold members of the
board of directors of nonprofit organizations
personally liable for fines where arms-length
contracts are deemed after the fact to have been
too generous by the IRS.
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8.
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State laws that require professional solicitors
to sign an Irrevocable Consent for Service form
appointing a state official to receive legal
service on their behalf, thus precluding solicitors
from designating local counsel to receive legal
service.
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9.
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Intrusive and unconstitutional provisions of New
Hampshire's charitable solicitation law.
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10.
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Efforts by state Attorneys General and
self-styled consumer groups to select and publicize
worthy and unworthy charities, based upon cost
allocations.
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