Why does MECA have to spend more than half a million dollars on salaries that are not program-related? This enormous expenditure stands out like a flaming beacon on a pitch-black night and tells us exactly why Charity Navigator gives MECA such a poor rating. If people donate money to provide food, clothing, toys, and medicine to children in the Middle East, they are not really interested in paying for extraneous salaries. We also doubt that they are interested in paying the travel and lodging expenses of International Solidarity Movement troublemakers. This suggests strongly that donations to MECA might be better directed to other charities whose missions are similar; the Charity Navigator link names at least two that are far more efficient.

Where does this Form 990 account for the money that is being channeled to the non-exempt International Solidarity Movement? Although we are not CPAs we can read income statements and balance sheets and the only place this might be accounted for is under “Other Expenses,” which amount to more than $37,000.

We will definitely want to see this organization’s Form 990 for 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 to see whether it told the Internal Revenue Services about all its well-documented lobbying and grass-roots public-relations expenses for those years. It is on record that MECA has encouraged its Web site visitors to lobby for and against various Federal bills, most recently HR4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006. We are confident that MECA will report these activities on its tax returns as required by law, including the amount of money spent on these activities.

For the record (2nd quarter 2006, this should be reported on MECA’s 2005-2006 tax return): http://www.mecaforpeace.org/UrgentAction.html

TAKE ACTION: Thank Reps. Opposed to Anti-Palestinian Legislation

With 295 co-sponsors, it comes as no surprise that the House of Representatives passed today HR4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006. The vote count was 361 yeas, 37 nays, 9 presents (abstentions), and 25 not voting (Roll Call).

TAKE ACTION: Send a message of thanks to all 46 Representatives who voted nay or present by clicking here.

Although the bill passed, our tremendous grassroots opposition to it prevented the bill’s supporters from rushing it through for a quick vote with no debate. We succeeded in delaying the bill for months, helped to get it watered down at the committee level, and forced AIPAC to expend enormous amounts of political capital to pass it.

In fact, our opposition helped generate something last night on the floor of the House of Representatives that has not occurred in a long time: the House held an open and honest debate about US policy toward Israel/Palestine for nearly three hours. This afforded many Members of Congress an opportunity to speak out in forceful terms against the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act (Congressional Record, H2990-H3012).

Even though the House has passed the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, it is still a long way from becoming law. The Senate has yet to take up its less draconian version of the bill (S2370) and even if the Senate passes this bill, it will need to be reconciled by both houses in committee and signed by the President before becoming law. In other words, we still have many opportunities to continue to mobilize opposition to sanctioning the Palestinian people for exercising their right to vote.

The US Campaign urges its supporters to take one additional, extremely important action on HR4681. Please contact the Representatives who voted against and/or who spoke against the resolution last night. It is especially important if you and your organizations reside in the district of a Representative who took one or more of these steps against the resolution. It is critically important for Representatives to receive support when they act or vote courageously.