April 3, 2008 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is challenging the Internal Revenue Service’s investigation into allegations that the United Church of Christ violated federal laws on electioneering and is asking the IRS to explain why it began the inquiry.
Mr. Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, said he found the investigation “especially troubling because of the service’s inadequate guidance” for churches trying to follow federal law when they invite candidates to appear at gatherings.
The IRS notified the United Church of Christ in February that the government had a “reasonable belief” that the church had engaged in forbidden political activities because Sen. Barack Obama spoke at a major conference held by the church last year in Hartford, Conn. The IRS also said that 40 volunteers for Mr. Obama, an Illinois Democrat who belongs to the church, “staffed campaign tables outside the [convention] center to promote” Mr. Obama’s presidential bid.
Under federal law, churches and charities must not participate in a political campaign in support of, or in opposition to, a candidate for public office. An organization that violates the law a single time could be forced to pay a penalty and have its tax exemption revoked.
Officials of the United Church of Christ have denied any wrongdoing.
Senator Lieberman told the IRS that the church “took significant precautions to ensure that Senator Obama’s appearance” satisfied legal requirements. “I am concerned about the chilling effect on legitimate activity by religious organizations that results from initiating a church tax inquiry without first satisfying the reasonableness standard, and I am further concerned by the lack of clear guidance in this area,” he wrote.
Mr. Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000, this year has endorsed Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican, for president.
To read Mr. Lieberman’s letter to the IRS, go to http://lieberman.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=294961.
