The Obama administration is seeking to rein in the ‘dark money’ groups that spend millions in political campaigns without divulging their donor information. It’s about time.

In draft guidance to be issued by Treasury and the IRS, the administration proposes new standards for tax-exempt groups like the Karl Rove-linked Crossroads GPS and Organizing for Action, the offshoot of President Obama’s own campaign apparatus.

“This proposed guidance is a first critical step toward creating clear-cut definitions of political activity by tax-exempt social welfare organizations,” said Mark Mazur, Treasury’s assistant secretary for tax policy.

The move springs directly from the controversy over IRS targeting of Tea Party groups, which began after compliance officers singled out political groups seeking tax-exempt status for extra scrutiny. Source: The Hill

This was cross-posted from The Hinterland Gazette.