Russ joined the Center in March 2012 as the money-in-politics reporter. His duties include reporting for OpenSecrets Blog and assisting with press inquiries. Russ has a background in investigative journalism, having worked as a reporter for the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University, and he spent five years as a newspaper reporter in New Hampshire. He has a degree in political science from Muhlenberg College and a M.A. in journalism and public affairs from American University.
Tea Party Groups Attacking Obamacare Granted Tax-Exempt Status
The Internal Revenue Service has granted tax-exempt status to a handful of politically active nonprofits, including several tea party groups and a Florida organization called America is Not Stupid, that ran political ads attacking “Obamacare.'”
Since May, when the scandal first erupted, at least four tea party affiliated groups have been granted exempt status:
- East Jersey Tea Party, of Jackson, N.J.
- Flint Hills Tea Party Education Fund, of Manhattan, Kans.
- Hampton Roads Tea Party, Inc., of Chesapeake, Va.
- Montana Tea Party, Inc., of Bozeman, Mont.
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