In the wake of the Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, I’m pleased to note that 15 state attorneys general have immediately stood up for religious liberty.

At oral argument, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli candidly admitted (“it’s certainly going to be an issue”) that the Obama administration would explore taking away the nonprofit tax status of religious organizations that oppose same-sex marriage. The 15 state AGs have signed a strong letter to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell and House speaker John Boehner opposing this “unprecedented assertion of governmental power over religious exercise” and urging Congress to “take action now to preclude the IRS from targeting religious groups in this way.”

Congratulations and thanks to West Virginia attorney general Patrick Morrisey, who evidently took the lead role in drafting the letter and in organizing the collective effort, and to his fellow signatories (whom I list here alphabetically by state):

Alabama—Luther Strange
Arizona—Mark Brnovich
Arkansas—Leslie Rutledge
Georgia—Samuel S. Olens
Idaho—Lawrence G. Wasden
Kansas—Derek Schmidt
Louisiana—James D. “Buddy” Caldwell
Nebraska—Doug Peterson
South Carolina—Alan Wilson
South Dakota—Marty J. Jackley
Tennessee—Herbert H. Slatery III
Texas—Ken Paxton
Utah—Sean Reyes
Wisconsin—Brad D. Schimel

Let’s hope that all the other state AGs weigh in soon to protect the religious liberty of their citizens.

The First Amendment Defense Act, introduced in the Senate by Mike Lee (Utah) and in the House by Raul Labrador (Idaho), would protect against this IRS threat and other related intrusions on religious liberty. Both Houses of Congress should move promptly on this bill.