GOP Tax Reform to Include Repeal of Law Banning Churches From Endorsing Candidates

Trump: ‘I Think Maybe That Will Be My Greatest Contribution to Christianity’

The Republican plan to reform America’s tax code includes repealing the law that prohibits churches from endorsing political candidates. Known as the Johnson Amendment, named for then-Senator Lyndon Johnson, the 63-yar old law actually applies to all  501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits, including universities, charities, scientific, and educational organizations, but only the religious right has been demanding its demise.

Through a campaign of disinformation, groups like the Family Research Council claim the Johnson Amendment is “just another way for the Left to crack down on pastors’ ability to speak openly about political issues and candidates.” That’s not true: nonprofits and churches can, and do, speak openly about political issues all the time, even issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, and it’s federal law, not Democrats’ law. 

“The inclusion of the repeal in broader tax legislation could bolster its chances. A stand-alone bill would almost certainly face a filibuster in the Senate, where opponents fear the measure would effectively turn churches into super PACS,” The Washington Post reports.

Tax reform is a major Trump campaign process, and after repeal and replace of ObamaCare, Trump said it is one of his next agenda items.

While many far right churches and activist organizations want the law gone, many religious institutions and organizations on the left do not.

“A coalition of 99 organizations, including many Jewish and Baptist groups, sent a separate letter to Congress last week, urging the ban stay in place,” the Post notes.

 

During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised evangelical Christian pastors he would “get rid of and totally destroy” the Johnson Amendment, even though it has almost never been used to strip any church of its nonprofit status.

“I think maybe that will be my greatest contribution to Christianity — and other religions — is to allow you, when you talk religious liberty, to go and speak openly, and if you like somebody or want somebody to represent you, you should have the right to do it,” Trump said in June last year. “We’ve got to spiritize this country.”

Trump pledged to repeal the Johnson Amendment again, at February’s National Prayer Breakfast:

Why does Trump want it repealed so desperately? Simple self-interest. 

If the Johnson Amendment is repealed, the church donation plate becomes an endless source of non-traceable campaign contributions. All of a sudden, not only will pastors be able to preach in favor of their favorite presidential candidate, they’ll be able to pour millions of dollars into Super PACs and even individual candidates’ campaigns nationwide.

As it is, studies show that Americans are forced to pay between $71 and $80 billion more in taxes to cover the tax exempt status of churches and religious institutions. Why should we also have to pay for their political speech?