Commentary: More Government Control of Charities Looms

Commentary: More Government Control of Charities Looms: "More Government Control of Charities Looms

by Karen Woods

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?"