Nonprofit Promoting Obama Agenda Decides Not to Take Corporate Money

The social-welfare organization formed from President Obama’s 2012 campaign has reversed course and decided not to take donations from corporations, says the Associated Press.

Critics had warned that gifts from corporations could lead to greater influence over the administration, given the close ties between the nonprofit and the White House. And Common Cause urged the group to shut down, saying it would deepen the “pay-to-play” culture in Washington.

But Jim Messina, the chairman of the group, Organizing for Action, wrote in a CNN.com op-ed Thursday that the group will be “open and transparent” and will also disclose on its Web site any gifts of $250 or more.

In keeping with the Obama campaign’s practices, the nonprofit will also not accept money from federal lobbyists or foreign donors.

Organizing for Action seeks to raise millions of dollars and rally Obama’s grass-roots supporters to further White House goals of curbing gun violence and overhauling immigration policies.