As we commemorate the two-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) today, August 16, there is much to celebrate about this historic legislation. The IRA represents the largest-ever climate investment in our country’s history, creating unprecedented opportunities for clean energy savings.
However, we at L4GG are acutely aware that historically marginalized communities often lack the resources to access the IRA’s historic funding opportunities. In response, we have intensified our efforts over the past two years to ensure that the benefits of the IRA reach those who need them most. See what we’ve been up to!
Not enough people are talking about the water crisis in Jackson, MS. On Tuesday, the Mississippi governor declared a state of emergency for Jackson’s water system, the city’s largest treatment plant. Most of the city’s 150,000 residents are without running water, having to rely on bottled water for drinking, showering, brushing their teeth, and cooking.
Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), the nation’s largest community of attorneys committed to human rights and equal justice for all, and New Georgia Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit voting rights and civic engagement organization in Georgia, today released a report on ‘ballot selfies’, or the practice of taking photos of oneself at the ballot box and/or with their ballots.
A ballot selfie is when a person takes a photo of themselves holding their marked ballot and usually uploads the photo to a social media account to show friends that they voted, and for whom they voted. Ballot selfies are a great way to promote voting and engage with one’s community, yet many states have laws that prohibit them. Advocacy organizations are concerned that laws prohibiting ballot selfies are tools of voter suppression, and another way to criminalize ordinary behavior.
Click here to download “Selfie-Defense Training: Understanding and Reforming Laws that Ban Photographing and Sharing Your Ballot”
The report found that ballot selfies are completely legal in 28 states, and illegal in 13 states. Five states have laws prohibiting ballot selfies at polling locations, but not when casting a mail-in or absentee ballot. Six states have laws governing ballot selfies that are unclear. The report calls for states to update their laws to explicitly allow voters the right to take a ballot selfie, and prevent voter fraud and bribery without curtailing free speech.
At Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), we are privileged to highlight volunteers who are strong in their dedication to advancing justice. This month, we recognize Lindsay Polega for her exceptional work in reproductive rights advocacy. Through her involvement with the League of Women Voters (LWV), the Jane Network, and pro bono cases protecting access to reproductive health clinics, Lindsay has become a vital force in Florida’s fight for reproductive justice.
This past Thursday, Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) hosted a Post-Election Organizing Call, bringing together over 350 lawyers and advocates committed to defending civil rights, reproductive freedom, and environmental justice. The energy, ideas, and determination shared during the call reminded us what’s possible when lawyers unite for justice. Click to read more about how you can join the fight.
Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) was born in the wake of the 2016 election, uniting a network of lawyers and advocates determined to uphold the Rule of Law, protect the rights and dignity of vulnerable communities, and strengthen our democracy. Today, given that the United States will soon usher in a new Administration that has threatened mass deportations, attacks on basic civil and human rights, and eradication of environmental protections, we find ourselves called to action once again. L4GG has been here before, and we are prepared to continue our fight for justice with the support of tens of thousands of attorneys across the country.
At Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), we are fortunate to work alongside passionate volunteers dedicated to making a meaningful difference. This month, we’re proud to feature Hailey Tahk, our Volunteer of the Month, whose pro bono work focuses on researching and advocating for reproductive rights.
What Inspires Hailey
When asked what inspired her to volunteer with L4GG, Hailey pointed to the significance of current events.
“I remember reading the opinion when I should have been studying for the Bar exam, but it’s such an important decision that impacts the country. I knew I wanted to be a part of the change,” Hailey said.
Memorable Moments and Accomplishments
Hailey’s most memorable moments with L4GG stem from her work researching reproductive rights. She takes pride in helping provide accurate, up-to-date information, which she believes is essential in today’s evolving legal landscape.
“I’ve learned so much about the legislative process and how challenging it can be for progressive legislation to pass. It’s given me a newfound appreciation for the hard work that goes into making change happen,” she said.
The Rewarding Aspects of Volunteering
For Hailey, the most rewarding aspect of volunteering is staying engaged with the issues she’s passionate about and contributing to the community in a meaningful way.
“Being involved in this work has enriched my life by helping me feel more connected to the community. It’s not just individual work I’m doing; I’m part of something larger,” Hailey reflected.
Advice for Future Volunteers
Hailey encourages attorneys and anyone considering volunteering with L4GG to embrace the opportunity.
“Providing daily updates or research might sound like a lot, but it’s a privilege to be part of a community that trusts your work and opinions. There’s nothing to lose, only to gain,” she advised.
Join Us in Celebrating Hailey’s Impact
If you’re inspired by Hailey’s story and would like to get involved, we encourage you to explore L4GG’s current volunteer opportunities. Together, we can continue making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
If you know of another incredible pro bono volunteer, nominate them for our Pro Bono Volunteer of the Month award here!
If you’re interested, consider how you might also make a difference through your skills and passions!
In recognition of this year’s National Celebration of Pro Bono (October 20-26, 2024), Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), a leading nonprofit organization that mobilizes pro bono legal support for human rights programs, is pleased to announce Yale Law School’s Immigrant Justice Project as a recipient of its 2024 Outstanding Pro Bono Partner Award. This award recognizes their exceptional contributions to L4GG’s Project Corazon, supporting asylum seekers and immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border and throughout the United States.
In recognition of this year’s National Celebration of Pro Bono (October 20-26, 2024), Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), a leading nonprofit organization that mobilizes pro bono legal support for human rights programs, is pleased to announce Nelson Mullins as a recipient of its 2024 Outstanding Pro Bono Partner Award. The award acknowledges Nelson Mullins' extensive contributions to L4GG's mission, with significant involvement across a diverse range of issue areas, including racial justice, climate change, healthcare access, and immigrant rights.
In recognition of this year’s National Celebration of Pro Bono (October 20-26, 2024), Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), a leading nonprofit organization that mobilizes pro bono legal support for human rights programs, is pleased to announce DLA Piper as a recipient of its 2024 Outstanding Pro Bono Partner Award. The award recognizes DLA Piper’s exceptional commitment to advancing human rights, particularly through its work with L4GG on children’s rights and immigration projects.
In recognition of this year’s National Celebration of Pro Bono (October 20-26, 2024), Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG), a leading nonprofit organization that mobilizes pro bono legal support for human rights programs, is pleased to announce Wilson Sonsini as a recipient of its 2024 Outstanding Pro Bono Partner Award. The award honors Wilson Sonsini’s exceptional contributions to L4GG’s mission, particularly through its work within the Climate Change and Environmental Justice (CCEJ) program, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) cases, and Lawyers for Racial Justice program.
Ahead of Nov. 15 Deadline, Partnership Fills Gap in Complex IRS Process for Clean Energy Projects Completed in 2023
Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) and Giraffe Financial have joined forces to streamline electronic filing (E-filing) for clean energy tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This initiative will make the process more accessible and affordable for tax-exempt entities, such as local governments, nonprofits, state agencies, and Tribal governments. Many of these entities are facing a November 15, 2024, IRS filing deadline to claim incentives for their electric vehicle purchases, electric vehicle charging, wind, solar, energy storage, and geothermal projects completed in 2023.
LEARN MORE HERE: https://giraffe.financial/2023efilingspecial/
The L4GG and Giraffe partnership is the first in its field to simplify this process and make it more affordable. E-filing for elective pay has become a costly, intractable problem that is difficult and time-consuming for communities that are leading on the clean energy transition with the help of the IRA’s funding, but lack the means and in-house experts to navigate a complex tax system.
To support these organizations, L4GG has developed the Clean Energy Tax Navigator, a free resource that walks through the process of determining eligibility for IRA tax credits, offering technical assistance, direct pro bono services in certain need-based cases, and free annotated tax forms to help entities complete the tax forms themselves.
Now, to complement L4GG’s support and enable entities to E-file with the IRS and receive tax refunds in a timely manner, Giraffe Financial is providing a one-time special E-filing service. Between now and November 15, 2024, Giraffe Financial is offering this E-file service for just $350 per project. This significantly discounted fee is only available to qualified entities that have gone through the Tax Navigator or otherwise received services from L4GG, received an IRS pre-filing registration number for their project(s), and worked with the annotated tax forms (made by L4GG and their partners) to prepare forms for their 2023 filings.
For all other organizations looking to file for projects completed in 2023 or beyond, Giraffe continues to offer its standard ‘tax credits-as-a-service’ performance-based pricing where Giraffe recoups a percentage of the value of credits it helps entities monetize.
The current special Giraffe/L4GG partnership price of $350 per project is based on the 350 parts per million atmospheric concentration of CO2 that we need to reach to address climate change. Both Giraffe and L4GG are committed to empowering organizations to become part of the climate solution by deploying clean technologies in a cost-effective manner by leveraging federal IRA funding. This partnership and discounted E-file offering intends to help catalyze the elective pay marketplace and demonstrate that organizations of all types can take advantage of IRA incentives.
Giraffe’s reduced fees will help advance the Biden/Harris administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which made it a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. It will also advance L4GG’s mission of ensuring this historic federal funding is equitably distributed.
“Far too many state & local governments, frontline communities, tribal governments, school districts, and nonprofits have completed clean energy projects but may miss out on valuable tax credits because they don’t have the time, resources, or knowledge to wade through complex IRS requirements and paperwork,” said Jillian Blanchard, L4GG’s Director of Climate Change and Environmental Justice Program. “One of those IRS requirements is e-filing, but many CPAs and e-filing services have yet to catch up with the new elective pay forms, cannot actually complete a comprehensive e-filing package, or are cost-prohibitive for under-resourced communities. L4GG saw this need, and is proud to partner with Giraffe to fill the gap, protecting those ushering in the clean energy transition by offering an affordable, comprehensive option to help communities e-file for elective pay and to make sure that everyone, especially communities in need, can benefit from the powerful new IRA tax incentives.”
"This partnership underscores the shared commitment of Giraffe Financial and L4GG to foster a cleaner, more just future by empowering all communities to access the benefits of the clean energy transition,” said Jason Prince, CEO of Giraffe Financial.
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Lawyers for Good Government (L4GG) is a community of 125,000 legal advocates in all 50 states working to ensure equal rights, equal opportunities and equal justice under the law. We coordinate large scale pro bono programs and issue advocacy efforts, seeking not only to establish and enforce equality under the law, but to also create the social and economic conditions that lead to true equity. L4GG’s CCEJ Program works to expedite a just transition to a green economy.
Giraffe Financial provides tax credits-as-a-service to enable organizations of all types to seamlessly take advantage of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives. Giraffe’s turnkey offering includes: determining eligibility for credits, calculating credit amounts, documenting regulatory compliance, managing prevailing wage and apprenticeship (PWA) requirements, completing IRS pre-filing registrations, preparing tax forms, E-filing for Elective Pay, and structured transactions for Transfers. Giraffe is exclusively focused on navigating the complexity of the IRA on behalf of our clients - IRA is right there in our name.
