Watchdog Group Says Kansas Churches Broke Electioneering Law

A nonpartisan watchdog group has complained to the Internal Revenue Service that two Kansas churches have violated federal laws prohibiting political involvement by nonprofit groups, reports The New York Times.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said that two churches in Topeka handed out campaign literature for Phill Kline, the attorney general of Kansas. A memorandum from Mr. Kline’s office instructs his staff members to recruit churches to host events and hand out campaign literature.

“This is the top law enforcement official in the state who is encouraging everyone to break the law,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics. “He’s either abysmally unfamiliar with the law, or he’s deliberately violating it.”

A spokesman for Mr. Kline did not return calls from The Times seeking comment, the newspaper said. A pastor at one of the churches cited in the complaint—Light in the World Christian Center—said that it not been involved in illegal politicking, while a spokesman for the other church—Wanamaker Woods Church—did not comment.

The watchdog group also says that the IRS has primarily investigated liberal groups. “If they’re being even-handed,” Ms. Sloan said, “I certainly can’t tell.”

The IRS did not comment on the request for an investigation or the accusations of bias.

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