Political Quotes

“I appreciate the gentleman yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the bill and, in particular, opposition to section 407, which would, essentially, repeal the Johnson amendment. The Johnson amendment protects the integrity and independence of charities and houses of worship by ensuring that they do not endorse or oppose political candidates. One of the characteristics of American religious institutions that has made them so sacred is that they are separate from government and separate from campaign profits. {time} 1630 If Americans want to get involved in partisan elections, we know how to do that, but what we are seeking when we attend church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or any or house of worship is something quite different. This distinction has long been reflected in how our law treats religious institutions differently than political institutions, to preserve their sacred place in American society, houses of worship must stay above the political fray, and refrain from endorsing candidates for political office. Current law strikes as balance, and it is important to emphasize what houses of worship with tax-exempt status can do: they are permitted to advocate for policies that are consistent with their values, and they can help their members become engaged in the political process by organizing events, registering voters, and getting them to the polls. They just can't tell people who to vote for.…”