News conference Wednesday on Free Speech Fairness Act
Tuesday, Jan 31, 2017
WHO: Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La.; Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga.; Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.; Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Christiana Holcomb; Family Research Council President Tony Perkins; and several pastors
WHAT: News conference on introduction of Free Speech Fairness Act
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 1, 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EST, or watch via live stream
WHERE: U.S. Capitol, Room HC-8, Washington
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Free Speech Fairness Act, if passed, will restore free speech to America’s pulpits and restrict the unconstitutional enforcement of the Johnson Amendment against churches and other non-profit groups for whom the law was never intended. Under the Johnson Amendment, tax-exempt organizations cannot “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” Currently, the Internal Revenue Service has the power to censor even a pastor’s sermon from the pulpit; such censorship runs squarely counter to the First Amendment’s free speech and religious freedom guarantees. The Free Speech Fairness Act fixes these constitutional problems.
Participants in the news conference include the following:
WHAT: News conference on introduction of Free Speech Fairness Act
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 1, 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EST, or watch via live stream
WHERE: U.S. Capitol, Room HC-8, Washington
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Free Speech Fairness Act, if passed, will restore free speech to America’s pulpits and restrict the unconstitutional enforcement of the Johnson Amendment against churches and other non-profit groups for whom the law was never intended. Under the Johnson Amendment, tax-exempt organizations cannot “participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” Currently, the Internal Revenue Service has the power to censor even a pastor’s sermon from the pulpit; such censorship runs squarely counter to the First Amendment’s free speech and religious freedom guarantees. The Free Speech Fairness Act fixes these constitutional problems.
Participants in the news conference include the following:
- Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La. (majority whip)
- Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga.
- Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla.
- ADF Legal Counsel Christiana Holcomb
- FRC President Tony Perkins
- Bishop Garland Hunt
- Pastor Stephen Broden
- Pastor Jim Garlow
- Pastor Hernan Castano
- Pastor Khanh Huynh
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
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