Tag: Johnson amendment

Politicking by Churches Fight Mixes With Tax, Spending Debates

The following article by Kate Ackley was posted on the Roll Call website December 6, 2017:

Johnson Amendment repeal effort waged on many fronts

Credit: Jusbe via Morguefile

As lobbyists spar over whether the final version of the GOP’s tax bill should roll back a rule that prevents churches and charities from endorsing political candidates, their efforts could add another wrinkle to the year-end spending debate.

Although a House proposal to scale back what’s known as the Johnson Amendment may not survive the tax overhaul, supporters of the change could turn to a spending measure as Plan B. And groups wishing to preserve the Johnson Amendment, which has been a part of the tax code since 1954, say they will be on alert.

“If it doesn’t make it in the tax bill, we need to watch,” said Lisa Gilbert of Public Citizen, who supports keeping the restrictions in place.

A partial rollback of the Johnson Amendment is already included in a fiscal 2018 House appropriations measure. Continue reading “Politicking by Churches Fight Mixes With Tax, Spending Debates”

The GOP’s effort to let churches endorse candidates is deeply unpopular

The following article by Jack Jenkins was posted on the ThinkProgress website November 28, 2017:

Credit: www.speaker.gov/blog

For years, a group of largely evangelical Christian conservatives have pushed the White House and Congress to abolish the so-called Johnson Amendment, a provision of the IRS tax code created in 1954 that bars non-profits and churches from endorsing political candidates. They now stand on the cusp of at least partly achieving their goal: a GOP-led Congress has quietly included a provision in their embattled tax bills that would chip away at restrictions prohibiting houses of worship from participating in electoral campaigns.

But even as supporters argue that removing the Johnson Amendment is meant to protect “religious liberty,” new survey results indicate the proposal is deeply unpopular with Democrats, Republicans, and even evangelical Christians. Continue reading “The GOP’s effort to let churches endorse candidates is deeply unpopular”

The GOP tax bill would repeal an amendment that prohibits churches from taking political stances

The following article by Joe Perticone was posted on the Business Insider website November 2, 2017:

  • The new Republican tax plan repeals the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits religious groups and churches from making political statements and backing certain causes.
  • Democrats have already opposed any repeal of the Johnson Amendment.
Credit: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

WASHINGTON — The Republican tax bill unveiled Thursday repeals a longstanding law that prohibits tax-exempt churches and religious groups from taking political stances.

Known as the Johnson Amendment, it stipulates that churches and religious groups are not permitted to endorse candidates and back political efforts while maintaining a tax-exempt status. Under the new billreleased Thursday morning, churches would not be penalized “solely because of the content of any homily, sermon, teaching, dialectic, or other presentation made during religious services or gatherings,” according to the text.

Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the top Republican tax writer in the House, told reporters, “I don’t want the IRS looming over our faith leaders in the community as they express their religious freedom.” Continue reading “The GOP tax bill would repeal an amendment that prohibits churches from taking political stances”

Trump vows to ‘totally destroy’ restrictions on churches’ support of candidates

The following article by John Wagner and Julie Zauzmer was posted on the Washington Post website February 2, 2017:

President Trump speaks during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday. (Win Mcnamee/Bloomberg News)

President Trump vowed Thursday to “totally destroy” a law passed more than 60 years ago that bans tax-exempt churches from supporting political candidates, a nod to the religious right that helped sweep him into office.

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Trump said he would seek to overturn the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits tax-exempt nonprofits — including churches and other houses of worship — from “directly or indirectly” participating in a political candidate’s campaign. Continue reading “Trump vows to ‘totally destroy’ restrictions on churches’ support of candidates”