Cash-Strapped Cities Look To Tax Churches

[lakhota]

With cash-strapped states and cities facing a slew of tough choices, there's a growing debate nationwide about whether religious congregations should help foot the bill.

More: www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/cashstrapped-cities-look-_n_812400.html

[jkapp]

Jan 21, 2011 20:56:02 GMT -5 @lakhota said:

With cash-strapped states and cities facing a slew of tough choices, there's a growing debate nationwide about whether religious congregations should help foot the bill.

More: www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/cashstrapped-cities-look-_n_812400.html

If they also tax charities and other non-profits I'm all for it...otherwise it's discrimination.

[lakhota]

Praise Gawd. I say tax them at the corporate rate. Then maybe they'll move offshore to avoid taxes.

[steff]

AMEN! Time to start taxing churches. Too bad it's taken this long for someone to seriously consider doing it.

[handyman2]

I don't agree with taxing the church sanctuary's but if they are running a business for profit then yes they should pay a tax which I believe they already do but also exclude any non-profit healthcare facilities they run.
Is it right that churches that run thrift shops to raise money to help the needy would be taxed on that? I think not

[lakhota]

How can anyone really know what churches are doing with their money if they aren't at least subject to state/federal audits? I say audit them and tax them!

[sanityjones]

NP hospitals too, especially considering how much the crooks charge. And 1099 the financial donors if they gift anything over $600 to any not for profit. No more write offs. This would help our budget woes considerably.

[Deleted]

Mormon churches are self supporting through the contributions of members, pay CASH money for everything they do, do NOT pay salaries to any staff, except seminary teachers-- who are actual teachers-- and the Prophet and apostle's staffs in Utah. They discourage gov't welfare, and have a strong church welfare system for members and others in need. The church also pays the cost of any young man or woman that wants to go on a 2 year mission if the parents cannot afford it. Plus, they are second only to the Catholic church in charity all over the world. I would hate to see those things change because someone decides they should be taxed.
Of course you people that do not like churches, religion, any of that never see the GOOD things many churches do, only what, in your minds, are BAD.

At the end of the year, every Mormon gets a detailed account of where every single cent of tithing in their wards went that year. We never had to wonder where the money went.

And guess what-- I am sure the recession has hit the churches, too.

[steff]

THe Mormon church was the largest contributor to the campaign against Gay Marriage in California. They played politics, they can pay taxes.

[burnsattornincan]

They played politics, they can pay taxes.

Just taking a wild guess that you don't like their "politics".

[steff]

I don't think politics should be preached from the pulpit. If they want to do that, then they can pay taxes. Religion should not be the driving force behind laws or politics IMO.

[sanityjones]

So what you are really saying is free speech should not be free? Only the government has a right to promote/criticize itself?

[handyman2]

Why would you want to tax a not-for-profit hospital? They do a lot of good charity work
There is a difference in non profit and not for profit hospitals by the way.
Most not for profit hospitals are run by the government. The Va's, the military hospitals and those like Shriners burn and children's hospitals who do a massive amount of free work.
The non-profit hospitals do not pay stock holders they do make a profit but what they make must go back into the system to modernize and keep the hospital running, These are like City, county, state and religious run institutions.
Only for profit hospitals have stock holders and pay a dividend. Want to see hospital costs go up start taxing the non-profit hospitals.

[sanityjones]

Jan 21, 2011 21:54:59 GMT -5 handyman2 said:

Why would you want to tax a not-for-profit hospital? They do a lot of good charity work
There is a difference in non priofit and not for profit hospitals by the way.
Most not for profit hospitals are run by the government. The VA's, the military hospitals and those like Shriners burn and childrens hospitals who do a massive amount of free work.
The non-profit hospitals do not pay stock holders they do make a profit but what they make must go back into the system to modernize and keep the hospital running, These are like City, county, state and religious run institutions.
Only for profit hospitals have stock holders and pay a dividend. Want to see hospital costs go up start taxing the non-profit hospitals.

Want to see total state sponsored (controlled) religion? Start taxing churches. Churches do function a lot like those precious hospitals.

[burnsattornincan]

Religion should not be the driving force behind laws or politics IMO.

Thats right but getting married is something of a religious thing and the thing has always been between a man and a woman. So maybe thats why they felt the need to get involved.

[lakhota]

Only the government has a right to promote/criticize itself?

I thought that's what the "free press" is for...

[sanityjones]

And I thought freedom of religion would allow me to be a vocal participant in the democratic process as well as professing my beliefs in a religion of my choosing.

[lakhota]

And I thought freedom of religion would allow me to be a vocal participant in the democratic process as well as professing my beliefs in a religion of my choosing.

Fine, just don't use your tax-free religion to politically dictate or influence how I and others live! What you do inside your little tax-free churches is your business; outside the churches it becomes my business.

[sanityjones]

Well, not exactly. You see if you wish to paint with that brush then it gives credence to the "what you do behind closed doors is fine" mentality. This is the antithesis of what it means to be free. I can be a Democrat AND a Baptist, or a homosexual AND a Republican. I think what troubles you is the religious extremist, and rightfully so.

[lakhota]

I think what troubles you is the religious extremist, and rightfully so.

True.

[Loopdilou]

My only problem with taxing churches is that I'm afraid that would give them even more incentive to butt their noses into my life. I prefer that church business stays separate from state business.

But I also waffle on this opinion, because they already try to legislate morality so why not tax them (especially when they use such a large portion of their "charity" money trying to enact legislation)?

Tricky subject.

[stayput]

Here's an idea. Let's tax all of the Indian cigarettes, and all other Indian products, as well as all Indian casinos at 90%.

[lakhota]

Jan 22, 2011 2:23:21 GMT -5 @stayput said:

Here's an idea. Let's tax all of the Indian cigarettes, and all other Indian products, as well as all Indian casinos at 90%.

Here's an idea: How about you getting informed before launching personal attacks. What do you know about what taxes Native Americans pay? Please share your great knowledge with us.

Here's a hint to get you started...

All Indians are subject to federal income taxes. As sovereign entities, tribal governments have the power to levy taxes on reservation lands. Some tribes do and some don't. As a result, Indians and non-Indians may or may not pay sales taxes on goods and services purchased on the reservation depending on the tribe. However, whenever a member of an Indian tribe conducts business off the reservation, that person, like everyone else, pays both state and local taxes. State income taxes are not paid on reservation or trust lands.

www.narf.org/pubs/misc/faqs.html

---

Those who suggest that tribal casinos should pay taxes "like any other business" overlook the fact that Indian casinos are not private for-profit businesses. As with state lotteries, they are operated by sovereign governments for governmental purposes. Like state, local and federal governments, tribal governments do not pay taxes.

When Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, it mandated that gaming revenues be used to strengthen tribal governments and improve life on the reservations.

www.bizjournals.com/twincities/print-edition/2011/01/21/production-studio-sees-growth-in.html

[stayput]

This post deleted due to content.

Tennesseer/Moderator

[lakhota]

What are Injins?

[Loopdilou]

...

Seriously? Some days I forget that some people on these boards are assholes. Then I'm reminded.

[stayput]

Try reading the original Mark Twain and you'll come across a guy named Injin Joe.

[lakhota]

Seriously? Some days I forget that some people on these boards are assholes. Then I'm reminded.

With Stay Put, you should never need reminded.

[lakhota]

Try reading the original Mark Twain and you'll come across a guy named Injin Joe.

Well, gee, don't stop there. What other interesting words did Mark Twain use?

[stayput]

This post deleted due to content.

Tennesseer/Moderator