Treasury is 100% right to crack down on activists masquerading as charities
Left or right, taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize political activism they oppose, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is drafting plans to ensure they don’t by revoking tax exemptions from bogus political “charities.”As The Post’s James Franey reports, Bessent and the IRS are taking a hard look at the conduct of up to a dozen or so high-profile lefty nonprofits — including George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Council on American-Islamic Relations — with an eye toward possibly revoking their tax-exempt status.That could mean a $165 million windfall in new tax payments from these groups — and, more important, end taxpayer subsidies for dubious or even rancid political activism.“The woke left wants to ‘tax the rich,’ but these same lefty groups will do anything they can to avoid paying their own taxes, including breaking the law,” snarked one source familiar with Treasury’s plans.“It’s hypocrisy at its finest.”To qualify for a 501(c)(3) tax exemption, nonprofits typically must operate “exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes”; they’re expressly prohibited from excessive lobbying or promoting “propaganda,” legislation or political candidates’ campaigns.Treasury is reportedly looking to treat nonprofits that are political activists in disguise as businesses or political machines for tax purposes, as per the law.That’s appropriate.
Open Society, after all, famously uses its billions to fund groups that back far-left causes — including criminal-justice reforms, climate change, legal privileges for illegal immigrants, DEI and more.Why shouldn’t it have to pay its “fair share,” rather than force other Americans — most of whom object to much of its agenda — to pick up the tab? Subscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter! Please provide a valid email.
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