For all the disastrous news lately, we dodged a bullet this week. A proposed amendment to the tax code empowering the government to effectively defund non-profits by labeling them “terrorist supporting organizations” quietly slithered through the House of Representatives unchecked until arriving on the floor this Tuesday.
Proponents of the anti-charities bill, H.R. 9495, exploited the aftermath of Donald Trump’s reelection to fast-track the legislation using a procedure that required a two-thirds majority. Fortunately, a broad coalition of nonprofits sounded the alarm and enough Democrats woke up to defeat the bill—although, shamefully, 52 of them still voted to give the second Trump administration an authoritarian’s ideal housewarming gift. House Republicans appear to be gearing up for another vote as early as next week, one that would require only a simple majority to send the bill on to the Senate. ….more
