Democratic Blogger Files Complaint Against Anti-Casino Group UPDATED
A democratic blogger has filed a complaint with the IRS claiming the "Say No To Casinos" group is involved in illegal lobbying and political campaigning.
Say No To Casinos is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. The complaint alleges that they're violating the ban on non-profits using their money to campaign and lobby. The complaint names Kent Ostrander and John-Mark Hack as directors. The IRS could pull the organization's tax exempt status if it validates the complaint. The complainant has checked a box which says "I am concerned that I might face retaliation or retribution if my identity is disclosed" so we'll keep his name private, for now. But I'm not sure the faith based groups that make up the majority of the "Say No To Casinos" campaign are too interested in "an eye for an eye" on this public policy issue.
UPDATE: The blogger is Williams Shackleford, who runs the RuralDemocrat blog. He's given his permission to use his name in the story. And I apologize for initially misspelling Hack's first name.
Comments
Mark - you misplaced the hyphen in my name. It's between the John and the Mark. The Hack is pure, all by itself!
JM
Posted by: John-Mark Hack | March 11, 2008 2:06 PM
Gee......this is almost as bad as 527's taking million dollar donations to blast the governor. Or is it?
Posted by: RR | March 11, 2008 4:01 PM
Isn't William's last name actually Shackleford?
Posted by: Cyberhillbilly | March 11, 2008 8:29 PM
Perhaps it is a little clearer, to the members of the House ,that our Governor is going to push this CASINO ISSUE up our u know what.
In the end, even if and it won't . . . but even if the proposal makes it to the ballot, it will be defeated by the voters. I don't know why this administration can't see that this is a fruitless effort.
The arm twisting continues . . . I wonder how many members, standing on the line, between and YES and NO vote will cave in to the Governor . . . or WILL THEY STAND TALL AS THEY HAVE ON TWO OCCASIONS and just say
NO TO CASINOS.
The press release from SAY NO,BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THE FONT, IS HARD TO READ. TRY THIS COPY.
MEDIA RELEASE
March 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GOVERNOR AND HOUSE SPEAKER FOCUSED ON THE WRONG RESURRECTION:
Dying “Casino-Horse” Should be Put Out of Its Misery
Say No to Casinos, the educational campaign devoted to distributing results of scholarly research on the issue of casino gambling in Kentucky, today called on Governor Steve Beshear and House Speaker Jody Richards to drop their ill-fated proposal to allow casinos in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The campaign issued its comments in response to statements by both the Governor and the House Speaker that indicated they would try and resurrect the dying casino-horse legislation.
“The humane thing to do would be to put this mortally wounded “casino-horse” out of its misery, and save the rest of us any more misery,” said Say No to Casinos Chair John-Mark Hack. “The great tragedy of this issue is what it’s already cost our Commonwealth in terms of lost time, energy and money this legislative session that could have been devoted to moving our state forward, instead of trying to engage us in a race to the bottom via casinos.”
Say No to Casinos went on to advise the Governor and the House Speaker to “cut their losses,” and try to save any face they can.
“When you keep doing the same thing over and over, and expect different results, people will and should start to question the quality of your leadership,” Hack said. “It’s almost like they’re behaving like compulsive gamblers, who just can’t stop losing. I suspect that House members will tell the Governor and the Speaker that they have no interest in getting on a losers’ bandwagon.”
Speaker Richards told the Lexington Herald-Leader that he would work over the weekend and on Monday to take a head count of House members to determine whether there is enough support to resurrect the failed legislation and to pass a constitutional amendment to allow casinos. Hack advised the Speaker that House members would likely be focused on another resurrection.
“This Sunday is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week for most Kentuckians,” Hack said. “I would assume that most House members are going to turn their attention toward the Resurrection that offers them hope, rather than one that offers us only despair, corruption, and loss.”
Say No to Casinos is a 501c (3) educational campaign based in Lexington with volunteers throughout the state. To join the campaign, visit our website at www.saynotocasinos.com or call us at (859) 255-2000.
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | March 14, 2008 4:55 PM
This is a copy of a post from Rural Democrat regarding the
IRS complaint concerning SAY NO TO CASINOS.
Jim Anderson Stivers, Frankfort, KY.
Comments From previous note from publisher.
I Filed a Complaint Against Say No To Casinos
Real simple; Say No To Casinos is a 01(c)(3) tax exempt organization, they are limited by law in regards to the amount of lobbying they can do.
I assume, when you filed your complaint, with the IRS,you provided them with the logic of how you came to make a decision to challenge their 501c.
Unless, you are just out to do what you can to discredit John Mark Hack, spokesperson for SAY NO TO CASINOS,then I see little logic for such a complaint.
The Governors proposal for a constitution amendment to allow Casinos . . . only had baby legs, which means its tiny legs can only carry it so far. Even with his political heavy weights by his side.
Yours Mr. Hays, is a post of SORE LOOSER. And, in the end your report to the IRS, will gain nothing, and still the HORSE LOBBY has been turned down again. What is four times now?
So, get mad at whomever you please, but your phony, sore looser claim will not get any legs with the IRS. IMO, you filed with IRS to make a story, to try to take chicken dunk into chicken salad.
I am sure, since you are the person filing you will be honorable enough to keep us BLOGGERS posted on your complaint.
"I just wanna say!!!"
Jim Anderson Stivers
Frankfort, KY.
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | March 14, 2008 5:05 PM