WASHINGTON (AP) — A Democratic senator taking part in talks on the GOP tax package says a provision allowing churches to endorse political candidates and still keep their tax-free status won’t be in the final bill.
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden has released a statement announcing the decision by the House-Senate committee that’s blending the two separate tax bills into a final package. Democrats had pushed for the move.
The tax bill passed by the House calls for repeal of the Johnson Amendment, a law that bans tax-exempt charitable organizations such as churches from participating directly or indirectly in any political campaign or supporting a candidate. Repeal wasn’t included in the Senate version of the bill.
