GOP push for religious endorsements in politics

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Political pressure is building on a powerful House lawmaker to remove the so-called IRS “muzzle” that prevents religious leaders from endorsing political candidates from the pulpit.

Frustrated that House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) essentially rejected House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert’s (R-Ill.) request in June to change the tax code on this issue, 131 House lawmakers are pressing the Speaker to act before the 108th Congress adjourns.

In a letter that was quietly delivered to Hastert before the summer congressional recess, the lawmakers claimed that the House “lost an ideal opportunity” when it failed to change the IRS policy in the corporate tax reform bill that passed the chamber June 17.

The bill is set to go to conference, and many key players on and off Capitol Hill want Thomas to agree to IRS policy changes before Congress votes on the merged measure.

Hastert and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) believe clergymen should be allowed to speak more freely on political issues, as does Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), sources say.

This is a politically sensitive situation for Hastert and DeLay, who clearly disagree with Thomas on the measure sponsored by Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) but need to work with the prickly Californian on a regular basis.

Hastert spokesman John Feehery said, “The Speaker supports [the Jones bill.] That’s all I’m going to say. He think it’s the right thing to do.”

http://www.thehill.com/news/090904/irs.aspx