(Bill) Thomas takes on (R) leadership (Over Religion in Politics)

[Khephra]

Rep. Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) this month thwarted a coordinated effort by House GOP leaders, the Republican National Committee (RNC) and an outspoken conservative lawmaker to change IRS rules so that religious leaders could speak more freely on political issues.

Thomas’s reluctance to embrace legislative language favored by leading Republican voices underscores the power that the Ways and Means Committee chairman wields in the House. It also has left some legislators and the religious right fuming at him.

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie and Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) endorsed language that would alter the IRS’s policy on religious leaders and then urged Thomas to put the provision in his corporate tax bill.

But Thomas, who is not fond of being told what to include in his legislation, drafted his own version of what Hastert, Gillespie and Jones wanted, sources say. The “safe harbor” provision for religious leaders that Thomas put in his foreign sales corporation/extraterritorial income (FSC/ETI) bill immediately attracted criticism from Jones as well as from liberal groups.

more..............

http://www.thehill.com/news/062404/thomas.aspx

[Charlie Brown]

1. Thank the gods

for campaign finance laws.

"Opponents of the Jones legislation, such as Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and OMB Watch, claim that the bill would blow a major loophole in campaign-finance laws and that the main intent of the measure is to help Republicans get elected. They add that religious leaders are allowed to discuss politics as individuals, but that they cannot and should not be allowed to use tax-deductible contributions to hold religious meetings that campaign for or against candidates for office."

[Tellurian]

6. More than likely Thomas gutted the bill

because Hastert's words were a bit too obvious. Don't forget, the little ceremony given for Moon Pa-Pa, recently. Moon is going to be funneling money to Right Wingers for a mighty long time, if democrats refuse to step up to the plate to stop it! Why do you think the GOP risked exposure to the mewspapers? (intentional typo) They promised Moon this public adoration ceremony essentially commiting their allegiance to Moon...in return, Moon will funnel the money back through the Evangelicals, then filter it down to demo congressional opponents..

[Elwood P Dowd]

2. That's unusual for a loyal Nazi like Thomas.

Must be some money in it for him from somewhere. He is
a repuke slut behind only fat boy Hastert and bug boy
Delay.

[librechik]

3. never thought I'd ever say this: go Bill Thomas!

resuming Hate Bill Thomas mode.

[DaveSZ]

4. Good for him

They probably have the votes for this too if it comes up for a vote eh?

[dusty64]

5. You mean he finally did

something good. This IS a shocker, maybe he was afraid of the backlash.