Fine print: GOP tax bill repeals a law barring churches from endorsing political candidates [View all]

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https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/11/02/1711990/-Fine-print:-GOP-tax-bill-repeals-a-law-barring-churches-from-endorsing-political-candidates?detail=facebook

Fine print: GOP tax bill repeals a law barring churches from endorsing political candidates
By Jen Hayden
Thursday Nov 02, 2017 · 1:29 PM EST


Republicans have crammed a little clause into their #BillionaireFirst tax bill that has little to do with taxes, but is a huge giveaway to the religious right. From The Hill:

The House Republican tax bill released Thursday would allow churches to endorse political candidates, rolling back a 1950s-era law that bars such activities.

The proposed change is listed at the end of the 429-page legislation.

It states that churches should not lose their tax-exempt status based on statements about political candidates made during the course of religious services.

The Hill goes on to note that a huge group of religious leaders previously called on Trump to back away from a rollback of the Johnson Amendment:

A group of over 4,000 religious leaders from around the country are rallying around a rule that prevents houses of worship from participating in explicitly political activities.

Specifically, they are calling on Congress not to upend the Johnson Amendment, which bans tax-exempt 501(c)3 organizations, including houses of worship, from endorsing candidates or explicitly engaging in electoral politics. President Trump has taken steps to weaken the amendment's rules.

“Changing the law to repeal or weaken the ‘Johnson Amendment’ — the section of the tax code that prevents tax-exempt nonprofit organizations from endorsing or opposing candidates — would harm houses of worship, which are not identified or divided by partisan lines,” the letter said.