"Angry Badger" Campaign Revealed: Another "Charity" Gets Involved in WI Recall

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http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/02/11305/angry-badger-campaign-revealed-another-charity-gets-involved-wi-recall

Leaked documents show that the Chicago-based Heartland Institute is planning to spend $612,000 supporting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and four GOP Senators in their probable recall elections. It is the second nonprofit group known to be active in the Wisconsin recalls, and comes as secretly-funded nonprofits are playing an increasingly important role in elections across the country.

The think tank, which is a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council and is funded by the Bradley Foundation and other right-wing foundations, named their pro-Walker campaign "Operation Angry Badger," according to Heartland documents leaked to DeSmogBlog and posted online.

In the documents, Heartland wrote: "The recall elections of 2012 amount to a referenda on collective bargaining reform at the state level, making them of national interest. Successful recalls would be a major setback to the national effort to rein in public-sector compensation and union power."

As a 501(c)(3) "charity," the Heartland Institute is prohibited from direct involvement in any candidate's political campaign, although they are permitted to participate in some political education.

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1. How can they keep their 501 (c)3 status?!? This is outrageous.

Time to tax them and politically-active churches. Enough is enough.

Diane
Anishinaabe in MI & mom to Leo, Taz, Sophie & Nigel, members of Dogs Against Romney, Cat Division
"We Ride Inside--Hiss!"

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2. Giving money directly to a candidate is NOT "political education".

They need to lose their charity tax-free exemption status. Clearly they are not operating as a non-political charity and they defrauding people who have given money for charitable purposes.

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3. Anyone giving money to the Heartland Institute knows it isn't really a "charity"