I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office issued a warning in a press release today that appears to be directly targeted at a new conservative nonprofit which has marketed itself as a counterweight to progressive nonprofits.
Attorney General Gary King has battled with the progressive nonprofits for months over what he sees as improper electioneering.
“There is talk of at least one emerging nonprofit group that apparently believes it will have more “wiggle room” to get involved in political activity,” King is quoted as saying in the release. “The truth is they can wiggle as much as they want as long as they comply with campaign finance laws.”
The conservative nonprofit in question is the Southwest Citizens Coalition. It is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. These nonprofits can engage in political activity as long as political activity is not their main purpose.
For example, the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund is primarily a nonprofit that advocates on environmental issues, but also occasionally engages in political activity.
So what is the purpose of this new conservative nonprofit? From an earlier New Mexico Independent story:
[Allen McCulloch] made clear in an e-mail to the Independent that while the group will focus on “promoting the discussion of public policy issues and encouraging participation in the governmental process by all segments of society,” there’s definitely a political purpose to the organization.
“We will continue to advise the Secretary of State’s Office that nonprofits engaging in targeted election-related activities are required to disclose their donors’ contributions and expenditures just like every other political action committee,” King added.
