Thursday, February 02, 2017

Tax Exempt Politicking?

I had always understood that the rule for tax-exempt organizations was that they were not allowed to participate in the political process.  I've known pastors who toed that line very, very carefully.  I've also known pastors who didn't care, who thought that they had a responsibility to educate their flock, and who were not afraid to call a politician out, or to recommend that one be voted in, or voted out.

I understand the prohibition, and I also understand why some pastors pay no attention to it.  Evidently, there is some movement to change the rule.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) says he's behind President Trump's vow at the National Prayer Breakfast today to "destroy" the rule that keeps tax-exempt organizations, including religious institutions, from participating in political campaigns.
Trump told the breakfast that because of "the right to worship according to our own beliefs," he "will get rid of and totally destroy the Johnson Amendment and allow our representatives of faith to speak freely and without fear of retribution."
Either way, I'm okay with it.  But, it should be the pastor's choice.  And, changing the rule should speed up the slow-walking that the IRS is still doing to conservative organizations who apply for tax-exempt status.

Has Trump fired Koskinen yet?

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