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2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Last updated on: 8/10/2016 3:03:20 PM PST

Should Churches (Defined as Churches, Temples, Mosques, Synagogues, etc.) Remain Tax-Exempt?



Pro
Trump
Trump

Con
Johnson
Johnson

Not Clear or Not Found
Clinton
Clinton

Stein
Stein






Pro (Yes)

Pro
Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Republican

"An amendment, pushed by Lyndon Johnson, many years ago, threatens religious institutions with a loss of their tax-exempt status if they openly advocate their political views. Their voice has been taken away. I will work hard to repeal that language and to protect free speech for all Americans."

Source: Donald J. Trump, "Full Text: Donald Trump 2016 RNC Draft Speech Transcript," politico.com, July 21, 2016
Con (No)

Con
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
Libertarian

"As with almost all aspects of the current tax code, the granting of exemptions, credits, etc., to specific groups is a recipe for favoritism and government manipulation. That is one of the primary reasons I advocate a simple federal consumption tax to replace all income taxes - and eliminate all tax subsidies, credits and exemptions."

Source: Email to ProCon.org from Gary Johnson's Communications Director, Joe Hunter, Oct. 9, 2012


None Found
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton
Democrat

No position found as of Aug. 10, 2016





Not Clearly Pro or Con
Jill Stein
Jill Stein
Green

"Peter J. Reilly: ...Someone who is designated a minister of the gospel is entitled to exclude from income the amount their congregation pays them for housing [known as the parsonage exclusion] regardless of the size, there is no dollar limit on this... If you were president would you consider not defending the constitutionality of the parsonage exclusion?...

Jill Stein: ...I try not to shoot from the hip, and actually consider these things before taking a position on them, and I would have to say that I would do that. But at first blush I would agree with the principal here of separation of church and state, which would seem to say we should not give special favors to employees of religious institutions that certainly sounds true."

Source: Peter J Reilly, "Jill Stein Lining Up with Freedom from Religion Foundation on Parsonage Exclusion," forbes.com, Oct. 9, 2012






FORMER CANDIDATES
(Candidates who have withdrawn or who no longer meet our criteria appear below in black and white and in alphabetical order.)



Pro
Con
Not Clear or Not Found
Bush
Bush
Carson
Carson
Christie
Christie
Cruz
Cruz
Fiorina
Fiorina
Graham
Graham
Huckabee
Huckabee
Kasich
Kasich
O'Malley
O'Malley
Paul
Paul
Rubio
Rubio
Sanders
Sanders





Pro (Yes)

Con (No)



None Found
Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 20, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Ben Carson
Ben Carson
Republican

Withdrew on Mar. 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Chris Christie
Chris Christie
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 10, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz
Republican

Withdrew on May 3, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Carly Fiorina
Carly Fiorina
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 10, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Graham
Republican

Withdrew on Dec. 21, 2015; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Mike Huckabee
Mike Huckabee
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 1, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
John Kasich
John Kasich
Republican

Withdrew on May 4, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley
Democrat

Withdrew on Feb. 1, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Rand Paul
Rand Paul
Republican

Withdrew on Feb. 3, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio
Republican

Withdrew on Mar. 15, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate's position on this question.





None Found
Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders
Democrat

Failed to win the Democratic nomination on July 26, 2016; no additional research done as of that date to determine candidate’s position on this question.








2016 Presidential Election Homepage

Quiz - Find Your Candidate Match!
Compare Candidate Positions Side-by-Side
RECOMMENDED to you...
1
Did You Know?
2
The Electoral College: Top 3 Pros and Cons
3
Pros and Cons of Donald Trump's Cabinet Picks
4
Differences in Conservative and Liberal Brains
5
Candidate Finances
6
Candidate Position Changes
7
US Political Parties
8
Presidential Election History from 1789 to 2012
9
How to Become the US President: A Step-by-Step Guide
10
Order of Presidential Succession
11
Top 10 Most Surprising Things in the 2016 Presidential Candidates' Online Stores
12
How to Register to Vote
+ DIG DEEPER...
2016 Presidential Election Results
ProCon.org Criteria for Inclusion as a Presidential Candidate
Glossary
Jeb Bush - Positions
Ben Carson - Positions
Chris Christie - Positions
Hillary Clinton - Positions
Ted Cruz - Positions
Carly Fiorina - Positions
Lindsey Graham - Positions
Mike Huckabee - Positions
John Kasich - Positions
Martin O'Malley - Positions
Rand Paul - Positions
Marco Rubio - Positions
Bernie Sanders - Positions
Donald Trump - Positions
2012 Presidential Election Quiz
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