KEYTLaw's Blog

Report: Charities Spend Too Much Time and Money On IRS Paperwork

Philanthropy.com: “The federal government is asking big nonprofits like universities and hospitals to spend too much time and money reporting on their finances and other activities, nonprofit officials told members of Congress today at a hearing held by the House Ways and Means Committee.

The wide-ranging hearing, the first in a series of sessions expected to be held by a Ways and Means subcommittee that oversees the Internal Revenue Service, also featured a call to change the standards for getting charity status so that groups would have to prove they are making a positive contribution, rather than giving them an exemption simply because they avoid things like lobbying and engaging in untaxed business activities.”

Large Sized Sugary Drinks To Be Banned In New York

New York Times: “New York City plans to enact a far-reaching ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks at restaurants, movie theaters and street carts, in the most ambitious effort yet by the Bloomberg administration to combat rising obesity.

The proposed ban would affect virtually the entire menu of popular sugary drinks found in delis, fast-food franchises and even sports arenas, from energy drinks to pre-sweetened iced teas. The sale of any cup or bottle of sweetened drink larger than 16 fluid ounces — about the size of a medium coffee, and smaller than a common soda bottle — would be prohibited under the first-in-the-nation plan, which could take effect as soon as next March.

The measure would not apply to diet sodas, fruit juices, dairy-based drinks like milkshakes, or alcoholic beverages; it would not extend to beverages sold in grocery or convenience stores.”

Court Ruling Puts SeaWorld’s Shamu Show In Jeopardy

U-T San Diego: “A judge ruled Wednesday that SeaWorld will have to find a way to protect its trainers during performances involving killer whales, a decision that stemmed from a trainer’s 2010 death at the Orlando park.

The ruling, which followed a nine-day hearing last year before an administrative law judge, could potentially keep trainers out of the water during SeaWorld’s iconic Shamu performances at its parks, including San Diego’s.

Long an integral part of the show, the water work was immediately suspended in February 2010 when Dawn Brancheau, a trainer at the Orlando park was battered and drowned by Tilikum, a 12,000-pound male orca, as spectators looked on.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration had fined SeaWorld $75,000 and issued three safety violations, the most serious of which accused the park of exposing its employees to the possibility of being struck by or drowned by killer whales.”

Portion of Defense of Marriage Act Struck Down by 1st Circuit

ABA Journal: “A federal appeals court has struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the law discriminates against married gay couples who are denied federal benefits, the Associated Press reports. The case is “all but certain to wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court,” AP says.

Ruling on equal protection and federalism grounds, the appeals court said rationales offered in support of the federal benefit ban are not sufficient.”

Former Justice Stevens Attacks Campaign Spending Ruling

CNN: “Retired Justice John Paul Stevens had harsh words for his former conservative colleagues Wednesday, saying they have inconsistently applied the law two years after a sweeping ruling dealing with campaign finance reform.

That controversial decision, known as Citizens United, gave corporations — individuals, unions, businesses and advocacy groups — greater power to spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose federal election candidates. Stevens issued a bitter dissent in that case, months before stepping down from the high court after 35 years on the bench. He said Congress had long imposed reasonable limits on corporate spending as a way to curb the potentially corrupting influence by the wealthy, whose voices would be heard above those of others in the crowded political landscape.”