This isn't about oversight or regulation

Reader comment on: Allison Versus Durbin

Submitted by David Nieporent (United States), Aug 9, 2013 23:19

Assuming purely for the sake of argument that it was reasonable to ask ALEC about their political activities, what does Durbin's letter have to do with that? Durbin doesn't even pretend that he's engaging in oversight over non-profit organizations for the purpose of "making sure that the tax laws are keeping up with the reality on the ground." Durbin's letter is asking businesses who contributed to ALEC about their political views for a hearing he supposedly wants to hold on Stand Your Ground laws.

Even accepting his letter at face value, which would be imprudent, he's "seeking clarification whether organizations that have funded ALEC's operations in the past currently support ALEC and the model 'stand your ground' legislation," and then he intends to publish that information. Under what possible theory of government oversight could that be legitimate?

The problem with Cato's response was not that it was an overreaction, but that it was too deferential to Durbin.

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Title By Date
A non profit has choosen to apply for that status. [48 words]LyleAug 10, 2013 23:36
Agree [10 words]Andrew TerhuneAug 10, 2013 13:19
⇒ This isn't about oversight or regulation [157 words]David NieporentAug 9, 2013 23:19
I'm with Allison on this [140 words]Bob RogersAug 9, 2013 18:06
The behind-the-scenes behavior of the IRS tax-exempt org., handoff to leftist groups the problem [221 words]Mark MichaelAug 9, 2013 18:04
Letters to donors [109 words]Walter OlsonAug 9, 2013 11:32

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