55 Jewish Groups Urge Congress not to Weaken Johnson Amendment

On Wednesday, The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), and 53 other Jewish nonprofits, charitable organizations, and religious institutions sent a letter urging Congress to reject efforts to weaken or repeal the Johnson Amendment, the existing law the prohibits tax-exempt nonprofits from endorsing or opposing candidates for public office.
 
“As religious and charitable nonprofits, our mission, first and foremost, is to do good works and serve our communities. Public trust in our integrity and commitment to that mission is paramount. Nothing would destroy that trust faster than bringing partisan campaign politics into houses of worship and opening the door to further rollbacks of the Johnson Amendment,” said David Bernstein, President and CEO of JCPA.
 
JFNA, JCPA, and the other groups are urging members of the House Ways and Means Committee, which is taking up comprehensive tax reform this week, to oppose the inclusion of any measures that would undermine the Johnson Amendment.