Saturday, April 08, 2017 8:06:07 PM
The Johnson Amendment, Which Trump Vows to ‘Destroy,’ Explained
By JEREMY W. PETERSFEB. 2, 2017
President Trump spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday.
Credit Stephen Crowley/The New York Times
WASHINGTON — When President Trump told an audience of religious leaders on Thursday that he would ‘destroy’ the Johnson Amendment, he declared his intention to sign a bill that would fundamentally alter a major aspect of the church-state divide that has been a constant in American politics for generations.
But what exactly is the Johnson Amendment?
A restriction for churches and nonprofits
It is one of the brightest lines in the legal separation between religion and politics. Under the provision, which was made in 1954, tax-exempt entities like churches and charitable organizations are unable to directly or indirectly participate in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate. Specifically, ministers are restricted from endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit. If they do, they risk losing their tax-exempt status.
Considered uncontroversial at the time .. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/28/opinion/campaign-stops/living-in-lbjs-america.html , it was passed by a Republican Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican. Today, however, many Republicans want to repeal it.
The ‘Johnson’ is Lyndon Johnson
Back when Lyndon B. Johnson was a senator from Texas, he introduced the measure as an amendment to the tax code in 1954. Like many things Johnson did, the goal was to bludgeon a political opponent, in this case a rival in a primary who had the backing of nonprofit groups that were campaigning against him by suggesting he was a communist. Though there was no church involved, according to PolitiFact .. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/jul/22/donald-trump/donald-trump-correct-lyndon-johnson-passed-legisla/ , churches were covered by the bill as well.
It fulfills a major campaign promise to the right
Mr. Trump promised he would work to repeal the Johnson Amendment as part of his extensive outreach efforts to religious conservatives, a group that took a long time to warm to his candidacy. Eliminating the measure has been a goal of the right. Conservatives have argued that it violates the protections of free speech and free exercise that the First Amendment extends to houses of worship. Courts have not agreed.
Speaking of the implications of a repeal last year, Jerry Falwell Jr., the prominent evangelical leader and Trump supporter, said it would “create a huge revolution for conservative Christians and for free speech.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/us/politics/johnson-amendment-trump.html
Two Johnson Amendment mentions are early into the second half of yours
Donald Trump gave a doozy of a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/02/02/donald-trump-gave-a-doozy-of-a-speech-at-the-national-prayer-breakfast/ [with embedded video and annotations, and comments]
and
Donald Trump Declares a Vision of Religious Nationalism
At the annual prayer breakfast in Washington, the president focused on the violent, ideological threats to America.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/donald-trump-national-prayer-breakfast/515445/ [with comments]
Above those in yours Colbert on Trump's muddled thinking processes is hilarious.
President Trump Asks Judge Gorsuch: So You Think You Can SCOTUS?
See also:
JimLur -- I've made my view of Gorsuch clear
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=130088970
By JEREMY W. PETERSFEB. 2, 2017
President Trump spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday.
Credit Stephen Crowley/The New York Times
WASHINGTON — When President Trump told an audience of religious leaders on Thursday that he would ‘destroy’ the Johnson Amendment, he declared his intention to sign a bill that would fundamentally alter a major aspect of the church-state divide that has been a constant in American politics for generations.
But what exactly is the Johnson Amendment?
A restriction for churches and nonprofits
It is one of the brightest lines in the legal separation between religion and politics. Under the provision, which was made in 1954, tax-exempt entities like churches and charitable organizations are unable to directly or indirectly participate in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate. Specifically, ministers are restricted from endorsing or opposing candidates from the pulpit. If they do, they risk losing their tax-exempt status.
Considered uncontroversial at the time .. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/28/opinion/campaign-stops/living-in-lbjs-america.html , it was passed by a Republican Congress and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican. Today, however, many Republicans want to repeal it.
The ‘Johnson’ is Lyndon Johnson
Back when Lyndon B. Johnson was a senator from Texas, he introduced the measure as an amendment to the tax code in 1954. Like many things Johnson did, the goal was to bludgeon a political opponent, in this case a rival in a primary who had the backing of nonprofit groups that were campaigning against him by suggesting he was a communist. Though there was no church involved, according to PolitiFact .. http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/jul/22/donald-trump/donald-trump-correct-lyndon-johnson-passed-legisla/ , churches were covered by the bill as well.
It fulfills a major campaign promise to the right
Mr. Trump promised he would work to repeal the Johnson Amendment as part of his extensive outreach efforts to religious conservatives, a group that took a long time to warm to his candidacy. Eliminating the measure has been a goal of the right. Conservatives have argued that it violates the protections of free speech and free exercise that the First Amendment extends to houses of worship. Courts have not agreed.
Speaking of the implications of a repeal last year, Jerry Falwell Jr., the prominent evangelical leader and Trump supporter, said it would “create a huge revolution for conservative Christians and for free speech.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/us/politics/johnson-amendment-trump.html
Two Johnson Amendment mentions are early into the second half of yours
Donald Trump gave a doozy of a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/02/02/donald-trump-gave-a-doozy-of-a-speech-at-the-national-prayer-breakfast/ [with embedded video and annotations, and comments]
and
Donald Trump Declares a Vision of Religious Nationalism
At the annual prayer breakfast in Washington, the president focused on the violent, ideological threats to America.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/donald-trump-national-prayer-breakfast/515445/ [with comments]
Above those in yours Colbert on Trump's muddled thinking processes is hilarious.
President Trump Asks Judge Gorsuch: So You Think You Can SCOTUS?
See also:
JimLur -- I've made my view of Gorsuch clear
http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=130088970
It was Plato who said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing”
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