Meeks says he’s long been mindful of the rules laid out by the Internal Revenue Service, but it’s clear he chafes at restrictions that prevent churches and other charitable groups from endorsing and contributing to political campaigns.
“I am running for office, and you know that. … I can take all the money I want from the National Rifle Association, from the pharmaceutical companies, from the riverboat people, from the tobacco industry and from the liquor industry. I can take all the money. … I can take it, it’s legal. But I can’t take one dime from a church,” he told the Salem Baptist congregation.” Something is wrong with that picture.”
Churches are prohibited from such political activity as a condition of maintaining their highly beneficial tax-exempt status with the IRS.
Well, if Meeks don’t like the law, then he can incorporate his church as a for-profit, begin paying income tax and property tax, and maybe even go public and deal with the SEC filings and disclosures. They he can give his money to whomever he likes, and as much of it too.
But for a guy who a few years ago admitted that his “church” was going to buy a jet plane to complain about his tax treatment is laughable. Open up the books reverend and let’s see where all the money’s coming from and going to.