Legislators request inquiry into HSUS's 501c3 status -- HSUS responds by pushing for more legislation

Two weeks ago, several members of the Missouri Congressional delegation requested an investigation into the tax-exempt status of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

These lawmakers, including Missouri Republicans Vicky Hartzler, Jo Ann Emerson, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Sam Graves and Billy Long -- and Alaskan Representative Don Young -- said in an official statement that HSUS's "sustantial political activities within Missouri" brought into question its tax-exempt status.

"We believe that HSUS's own public documents show beyond question that lobbying is a "substantial part" of its activities and feel the IRS's failure to act is attributable to the politcally sensitve nature of HSUS's activities."

The request comes after HSUS spent more than $2.1 million of if its own money, plus another $200,000 of money from organizations under its own umbrella (Doris Day Animal League and Fund for Animals) for the passing of Missouri's Proposition B.  Prop B was then dramatically changed by the state legislature.

In response, HSUS has announced that it is starting a new petition to promote even more legislation in Missouri -- this time legislation that isn't even directly tied to animals.

Monday, on Wayne's blog, HSUS announced that it would be working with a "diverse group of coalition partners to place a new measure on the November 2012 statewide ballot. The "Voter Protection Act" is an effort that would require the state legislature to get a three-fourths vote to over-ride a citizen's initiative.  (It should be noted that the compromise bill that replaced Proposition B, SB 161, received more than 70% approval of both houses of the legislature).  The hope for HSUS is that the new initiative would help pave the way for HSUS to pass more legislation in the state.

Now, when HSUS says they are working with a 'coalition" of partners, there should be no mistake who the voice behind the petition is. The website domain, protectvoters.com, was purchaced in March by HSUS -- 2 months before Prop B was changed.

Now let me be clear -- I am all in favor of being involved in politics. I have strongly encouraged it in this space and my own organization, Kansas City Dog Advocates, is mostly a political organization. My biggest problem is that I don't think HSUS is honest about what they do in most of their fundraising initiatives - - including sending emails to constituents to help dogs not in their care (and in the process, diverting funds from the people caring for the dog), and soliciting money to care for dogs they were not only not caring for, but actually lobbying to have killed.

It will be interesting to see how the request for inquiry plays out. 501c3 organizations do have the power/ability to lobby -- but it cannot be a substantial part of their activities. It has always seemed like HSUS has over-stepped those bounds...and I think transparency in terms of motives and goals is really important.

 

Comments

[Linda H]

I lived in a state with a proposition/initiative process. Too often they relied on the emotional reaction of the voters and suffered from a lack of even the minimal financial and feasibility oversight available in the legislative process. Propositions were passed that had a very negative impact on the state. HSUS's proposed legislation is a bad idea.

[kmk]

Wayne Pacelle is a sore loser. He's bound and determined to play on the emotions of Missouri residents.

If voters pass this initiative they get what they deserve. The legislature had better get off their duffs and approve the appropriate modifications to Prop C, passed in November 2008, before the November 2012 election. Prop C is even stupider than Prop B.