Contact: Bob Sturm, 703-396-6974; after 6 PM Eastern & on weekends, Bob Sturm or Cynthia Chambliss, 703-307-8176, 703-930-5148; ConservativeHQ.com
MANASSAS, Virginia, Feb. 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Stimulus Bill contains a dire threat of which most Americans are unaware, Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, said. "The bill could destroy the independence of America's nonprofit sector."
Under the legislation, Viguerie said, "Our country's vast network of nonprofit organizations - groups that serve our spiritual needs, help mitigate poverty, care for seniors and disabled veterans, and work to cure disease - would become increasingly dependent on the government, and increasingly subject to the whims of the party in power."
In a memorandum posted on the ConservativeHQ.com website, Viguerie outlined:
· How the political establishment takes advantage of conservatives' generous natures, and uses it against those with whom they disagree.
· How the provision of legitimate social services is used as a cover for political organizing - and even for attempts to subvert the democratic process.
· How legitimate charities get corrupted by government money and by relationships with politicians.
· How taking resources from the government makes you obligated to the government. The rule is: Take government money, and the government owns you.
· How the independence of groups such as nonprofits is what separates us from totalitarian countries.
· How America has been hurt by previous efforts to turn charities into cogs in the left-wing machine.
"Every member of Congress must understand," Viguerie said, "that his or her vote on this issue will not be forgotten. If you support this scheme, it will come back to haunt you in the years to come. If you take a courageous stand against it, your grassroots constituents will thank you."
Said Viguerie: "The nonprofit sector must not stand by while the government corrupts the very organizations that people contribute to, volunteer for, and depend upon for help in times of need."
The memorandum is posted online at
http://conservativehq.com/uploads/File/nonprofitreport.pdf
NOTE TO EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation magazine) and one of the "conservatives of the century" (The Washington Times).
