Trump, GOP Push Bill That Would Allow Political Activity By Churches

On Thursday, lost among the myriad controversies Donald Trump has caused for himself, Republicans introduced a bill that would allow churches and other religious organizations to engage in political activity without putting at risk their tax exempt status.

During the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump vowed to destroy the Johnson Amendment saying, “I will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution.”

The law known as the Johnson Amendment was first enacted in 1954 and prohibits churches and other religious organizations from keeping their tax-exempt status if they endorse political candidates or participate in partisan political activities.

On Thursday, Republican Congressmen Jody Hice and Steve Scalise introduced the bill would let churches and other religious organizations remain tax-exempt and express political views as long as they are made during regular activities.

In a statement Thursday, Hice said, “For too long, the IRS has used the Johnson Amendment to silence and threaten religious institutions and charitable entities. As a minister who has experienced intimidation from the IRS firsthand, I know just how important it is to ensure that our churches and nonprofit organizations are allowed the same fundamental rights as every citizen of this great nation.”
Republican Senator James Lankford who introduced a companion bill in the Senate said, “People who work for a nonprofit still have constitutional rights to assembly, free speech, and free press.”