lemon11 ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Amendment

The Johnson Amendment is a provision in the U.S. tax code, since 1954, that prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates.

Note that churches need not organize as 501c3 charities (https://501c3go.com/irs/churches-schools/does-a-church-need-irs-status/)) which means this rule is already avoidable. The difference, then, isn't for churches but for some sort of newly-profitable charitable PAC or something.

Look, the corruption is off the scale. The IRS has already been used as a political weapon to keep Obama in office. Repeal it all, do it in piecemeal, let it crumble as it destroys more political activity. It's theft. Fuck them, because they're already fucking us.

Gowdy ago

@JoeMcCarthy curious on your thoughts. I'm a little split on this. I think if repealed properly w/ some level of safeguards to prevent foreign investment it could be good. I just can't help but expect the GOP will fuck up the repeal somehow and accidentally create some giant loophole that brings in more Saudi Oil money for dems, etc.

Joe_McCarthy ago

I'm not up on the specifics of the repeal effort and US tax law is a byzantine process even for specialists... but foreigners can already donate indirectly to campaigns through Super PACS. So the substantive impact here would presumably mostly be to empower the Christian right.

Gowdy ago

My worry is the repercussions of a poorly implemented tax break. The DNC tossed so much more money down than the RNC in this past presidential election. Does this new lax standard suddenly make Hillary's 1+ billion 1.5 on the next candidate or does it actually even the ground w/ middle America? It's weird b/c I know the outcome I'd like. I know the reasons for it's implementation in the first place. (defunding LBJ's enemies) I'm just not confident that anyone in power now can do anything competently. My worry about foreigners donating to campaigns is that they suddenly find a loophole thanks to this and do it tax free. It's a double edged sword. Even if it is good now it's going to be ass cancer at some point in the future.