IRS commissioner John Koskinen deserves a measure of praise from all who hope to see America’s great heritage of robust, peaceful religious pluralism preserved for future generations. Since the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage decision in June, Koskinen became the first administration official to provide a clear—though limited—assurance that while he is in office he will not use his agency’s power to penalize religious organizations who dissent from the Court’s view of marriage. The commissioner made this promise in a recent Senate subcommittee hearing.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) asked whether during the remaining two-and-a-half years of Koskinen’s term he would commit not to “take any action to remove the tax-exempt status from religious colleges and universities based on their belief that marriage is between a man and a woman.” Koskinen’s straightforward response was, “I can make that commitment.”
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