Senator Should Look at Political Parties, Too

To the Editor:

Any donor — and I hope Sen. Charles Grassley is a donor to both the Red Cross and his local United Way — has a right and even an obligation to know that his or her gifts are being used as intended. Congress, too, should satisfy itself that the laws they pass protect the public and provide for a healthy and effective nonprofit sector (“D.C. United Way Faces New Scrutiny” and “Senator Seeks Financial Information From American Red Cross Leaders,” September 5).

I hope too that the senator expends equal effort examining the Democratic and Republican Parties and how those nonprofit organizations raise and allocate money. These groups, and their affiliates, deserve at least as much scrutiny, especially since it’s questionable whether their intent is as noble and readily apparent as the mission statements and long record of achievement compiled by the American Red Cross and some 1,400 United Ways.

David M. Zemel
Tulsa, Okla.