OPINION/COMMENTARY

Senator Exposes Partisan Environmental 'Charities' in Floor Speech

In a speech on the U.S. Senate floor October 4, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) outlined the connection between environmental groups, government funding, and their political activities. "Interestingly, these environmental groups are all tax-exempt IRS registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, meaning that contributions to these groups are tax deductible, yet all these non-profit groups are also closely associated and fund their affiliated 501(c)(4) lobbying organizations and 527 political groups," Inhofe said. "These groups profess to be the greatest stewards of the environment and solicit contributions from a variety of sources by that claim," Inhofe added. "But they demonstrate more interest in hyping apocalyptic environmental scenarios to raise money for raw Democrat political purposes, rather than working together to improve our environment for the benefit of all Americans." The recent changes in campaign finance law do not apply to charitable groups. The environmental groups described by Inhofe spent millions of dollars in what their opponents characterize as an effort to sway the election. Inhofe outlined how five environmental activist groups--the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and Environmental Defense--have been receiving funding from government grants and large foundations such as Pew Trusts, the Heinz Endowments, and the Turner Foundation....