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February 08, 2007

"Ethics Rules May Inadvertently Burden Charities." The Washington Times' Lois Romano picked up on what many in the nonprofit sector suggested would happen after the new House ethics rules were implemented: If the new rules are applied as written, nonprofits - even those that hold bona fide charity events - may likely have a more difficult time raising money.

When the proposed rules received coverage in the media last year, many assumed that they would apply only to elected officials; it appears their grasp extends further. Romano states that politicians' spouses cannot accept gifts, including dinner invites and reception appearances, gratis unless "they are invited to an event by virtue of their own stature or job."

The substantive issue here is whether the legislators and/or their spouses attend charitable events for free - whether they are given services or "tokens" of appreciation for free. Capricious nievete I'm sure, but Romano's sturm und drang seems, well, too tumultuous. If a politician's wife truly desires to throw her name behind the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Gala at the Kennedy Center, a $20 dinner seems a reasonable price to pay. At each level it appears to work: The politician's (and his spouses') support of a nonprofit will be $20 more genuine, the nonprofit will be $20 richer for the more genuine support, and the other attendees will oogle and ogle no less.

Posted by Seth Zirkle at February 8, 2007 06:28 PM

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