Johnson Amendment, measure to allow churches to endorse candidates, removed from tax plan

The Senate parliamentarian blocked the repeal of the Johnson Amendment as part of the tax plan on Friday.

The Johnson Amendment prevents churches and 501(c)(3) nonprofit companies from endorsing candidates and advocating partisan political views. The language in the tax plan would’ve repealed this rule and allowed these groups to participate directly in political activities.

The Senate rules require any addition to the tax bill must be related to taxes or spending, which they determined this language did not meet.

Republicans who supported the measure argued it was a free speech issue, while Democrats said it was another way to skirt campaign finance laws.