GOPer: Woolsey's claim against bishops is 'retribution' against free specch

A Republican lawmaker on Tuesday hit back at Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) co-chairwoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) for suggesting the IRS investigate an organization of Catholic bishops.

Woolsey wrote an op-ed yesterday suggesting that the tax agency review the nonprofit status of the  United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), which endorsed the Stupak amendment on Saturday just before the House voted on its healthcare reform legislation. The amendment limits access to abortions by banning federal funds from paying for abortions under public healthcare plans created by the bill.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), who is Catholic, shot back at Woolsey today, saying she is striking back against the bishops for exercising their First Amendment rights. He posted on Twitter:

The nerve of some citizens to petition their government. In Woolsey-land, free speech is cause for retribution. http://ow.ly/B25s #tcot

The amendment, which attracted the support of 64 Democrats, is strongly opposed by the liberal wing of the party. Centrist and conservative Democrats, as well as most Republicans, favored the amendment.

"Apparently, exercising your right to petition your government is fine except when your point of view is different than Ms. Woolsey's. Then it's grounds for retribution by your government. I think most fair-minded observers would say that the congresswoman should reconsider her threats," added McHenry spokesman Brock McCleary.

In her op-ed, Woolsey accused the bishops of "dictat[ing] the finer points of the amendment" and "bully[ing] members of Congress to vote" for it. The USCCB wrote a letter to lawmakers over the weekend saying that the amendment is consistent with the Hyde Amendment, a long standing policy that bars federal money from paying for elective abortions.

"[W]e strongly urge you to vote for the [Stupak proposal] and to support a fair process in the House of Representatives to consider this essential improvement in health care reform legislation," the letter reads.

"The IRS is less restrictive about church involvement in efforts to influence legislation than it is about involvement in campaigns and elections," she wrote. "Given the political behavior of USCCB in this case, maybe it shouldn’t be."

According to the IRS, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are prohibited from attempting to "influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities" and from all campaign activities.

40 House Democrats, lead by Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), have pledged to vote against the bill if the conference report includes the abortion language. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) indicated today that the Senate has the votes to strip the language inserted by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) from the bill. 

Cross-posted to the Twitter Room