Christian News - The Christian Post | More Government Control of Charities Looms

Christian News - The Christian Post | More Government Control of Charities Looms: "More Government Control of Charities Looms

Monday, Jul. 18, 2005 Posted: 10:44:27AM EST

With rising concerns about financial abuses at charities, lawmakers are looking at significantly stepping up regulation of tax-exempt organizations, including faith-based groups. Last month, a much-anticipated report from the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, a U.S. Senate advisory group, advocated some 120 measures to increase accountability and financial transparency.

“Full transparency is the key issue,” said Diane Aviv, president of Independent Sector, a coalition of nonprofits, and executive director of the Senate panel. She’s right, of course. But achieving full transparency with massive amounts of red tape and oversight from Washington would be like going after a housefly with a sledgehammer. And what about the laws and regulations already on the books?

Gammon & Grange P.C., a Virginia law firm specializing in nonprofit issues, analyzed testimony at Senate Finance Committee hearings in June, along with written submissions. In all, some 94 alleged abuses were cited about a number of charities. Gamm"