Georgia Baptist Convention urges ‘no’ vote on tax overhaul
House and Senate Republicans are working furiously this afternoon to massage the proposed tax overhaul into a form that will fly with wary members of both GOP caucuses.
One reason for the sudden footwork is this e-mail from the top lobbyist for the Georgia Baptist Convention, sent to its massive network of churches:
The new Georgia Tax Policy that is being debated in the GA House of Representatives today will not allow tax deductions for charity or church giving. It is important that you contact your House of Representatives member today and tell them you are opposed to that change in the GA Tax Policy.
…It is urgent that you do this today and send this information to your contacts as well so they can do the same.
H. Ray Newman
State Missionary
Ethics and Public Affairs
Georgia Baptist Convention
6405 Sugarloaf Parkway
Duluth, GA 30097
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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108 comments Add your comment
Tom
March 30th, 2011
1:11 pm
Anyone have a link to a latest revision?
jconservative
March 30th, 2011
1:12 pm
Ending a deduction is the same as raising taxes.
Why are Georgia Republicans addicted to raising taxes?
Why not just cut spending by cutting the size of state government?
Just asking.
No dog in this hunt
March 30th, 2011
1:22 pm
jconservative: They are cutting. Look at the Universities and k-12 education. The state patrol ignores certain parts of the state during the early morning. Our GBI crime labs are closing and we are releasing violent offenders because we can’t get them to trial in a timely manner. These are the costs of being 49th in the country in per capita taxes.
The next move is to cut the taxes on those making over $180k per year and transfer it to those making less.
The Snark
March 30th, 2011
1:28 pm
jconservative:
Maybe it’s because a very few of them still feel a tiny, lingering sense of responsibility. But don’t worry, it will be snuffed out in short order by the Tea Party. And then you can have all the tax cuts you want, and a government that works something like Somalia.
Centrist
March 30th, 2011
1:38 pm
The whole thing probably needs to be junked and worked again over the rest of the year. It is a good idea, but was cobbled together too late without enough public (not just lobbyists) input.
Georgia Girl
March 30th, 2011
1:43 pm
The next time ou are have to wait in line for a driver’s license for 6 hours, you might regret the comment about cutting state government.
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
March 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
Churches are big business who promote political agendas and have forfeited their right to a tax exempt status, IMHO.
Arlito
March 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
During the Bush years, we were told that charities and churches would need to step up and supply needed food programs, daycare, and outreach because the government couldn’t (or wouldn’t) afford to provide those services. Now the GOP in Georgia is essentially killing the funding (tax-deductible donations) for those charities. Nice.
deegee
March 30th, 2011
1:51 pm
Why not revamp the tax code and make everybody pay income tax at a low, progressive rate. Top it out at 10% with no deductions, no EITC, no money back in April, no social engineering. I wonder if we would do better or worse financially?
freidenker
March 30th, 2011
1:52 pm
amen, CST. all things ‘church’ should be taxed like any other business, …pay income tax on all donations, properties, et al. only fair to those of us taxed out the wazoo who don’t believe such nonsense.
John K
March 30th, 2011
1:57 pm
The Georgia Baptist Convention needs that money to stick their nose into everyone’s personal business!
Centrist
March 30th, 2011
2:00 pm
While I agree that “churches” should not be tax exempt – such a change has as much chance with Republicans as socialism. The Democrats never went after that when they were in power. Most of the added socialist experiments (not the damage and programs in place) is behind us for a while at the federal level.
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
2:03 pm
Yes, tax the churches!
Lucy
March 30th, 2011
2:08 pm
http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/displaybill.aspx?BillType=HB&billNum=387
the original and still the best John Galt
March 30th, 2011
2:13 pm
Good for the Baptists! This hodge-podge mess needs to be opposed.
Real Athens
March 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
In the relatively small downtown of Athens — 5 city blocks by 5 city blocks — churches occupy nearly 3 whole blocks. They don’t pay a dime in property taxes like every other business in town does. However, they for-profit child care, meeting space for other organizations and private school.
It’s time to end tax-exempt status for these leeches. Also, if they are going to engage in lobbying they should have to register to do so.
For all the cries of “Christian Prosecution” they lost sight of their mission long ago.
WWJD, indeed. If you truly follow his words — all of them, not cherry picking for your “cause” — you’d find this plainly obvious. Modern churches have become the “false prophets” warned about in Revelations.
What if the Rapture comes and nobody goes?
deegee
March 30th, 2011
2:19 pm
Good luck with taxing religion. That is one truly bipartisan untouchable.
jarvis
March 30th, 2011
2:21 pm
@Real, how are their schools and child care programs “for profit”? Do you know what that means? Is the “profit” being distributed to the church’s ownership?
What do they do with their “profits”?
Last Man Standing
March 30th, 2011
2:26 pm
No dog in this hunt:
The Snark:
So your recommendation is to raise taxes? In a plummeting economy and unemployment above 10%, do you think raiding taxes is the answer to our problems?
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
2:30 pm
Welcome to the Church of Georgia Blue! (Praise Jesus!) Send ME your money, and I will forgive your sins, berate your neighbors who are different from you, lead you in some lovely hymn singing (I can hit the high notes, as long as I don’t have to hit too many), and lobby the legislature to pass more legal restrictions on everyone who gives you the creeps. Hallelujah! Send ME your money, and do it now, so I can file for my tax exemptions and begin doing “God’s work” (in MY life!) Heh…. Whatcha waitin’ for?
Last Man Standing
March 30th, 2011
2:35 pm
deegee:
A progressive tax is unfair because it taxes those who make more money more than those who earn less money. I do completely agree that EVERYONE should be taxed and that the EITC should be eleiminated. Actually, the EITC is nothing more than redistribution of wealth.
If you tax higher income earners at a higher rate, you are in affect punishing them for being more productive thus descouraging their behavior. If you tax lower income earners at a lower rate, you encourage (reward) that behavior.
Tired of BS
March 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
I am a christian too, but it’s time for the churches to back away from the political troff. If they insist on lobbying for their personal monetary gain, then we should insist that they pay taxes just like the members of their congregations.
Real Athens
March 30th, 2011
2:36 pm
Jarvis:
Nonprofit organizations can and do make a profit, but it must be used solely for the operation of the organization or, in the case of a foundation, granted to other nonprofit organizations.
Buying private land downtown to increase the size of a rectory, or to build an adjacent parking lot or to build a gymnasium without increasing matriculation or the number of children in a day care program is “for profit” or an illegal non-profit at the least.
Split hairs, semantics, whatever you want to call it.
Bill Dipstung
March 30th, 2011
2:46 pm
Mega churches are Mega businesses with vast properties and many holdings. The day of the small country churches are almost a thing of the past. Something must be done.
Lee Howell
March 30th, 2011
2:47 pm
I like the idea of reducing the number of Georgia counties to about 50-60.
I wouldn’t be opposed to a flat income tax, if it also included dividend type income, and not merely salaries and wages.
I don’t like this bill, and I don’t like the idea of rushing it through without adequate time for discussion. Not that most Georgians pay attention anyway.
OneFreeMan
March 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
Drop the income tax and increase the sales tax(no exemptions).
pete
March 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
yes tax the churches.I pay taxes for everything I get!
detritusUSA
March 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
If the only reason you give to church or charity is for the tax deduction, then you’re giving for the wrong reason.
td
March 30th, 2011
3:00 pm
If we are going to tax the churches then we are saying we are taxing all giving. Let us then tax the money we give to our children. When a parent buys a car for their child then they should pay the state 6% of the purchase price because it is a gift. When a parent pays for the college tuition for a child then the state should get 6% of that as well.
Yes, let us show so more wealth envy and tax everything so that we can redistribute it to those non-producers so they can feel better about themselves.
Aquagirl
March 30th, 2011
3:11 pm
Boy, those churches get there lickety-split when their cash flow is at stake.
Reality Check
March 30th, 2011
3:13 pm
Right now, you are allowed to deuduct tithes and offerings on your personal income tax–the proposed change is to eliminate that personal deduction. The churches know that if the personal deduction is removed, people won’t contribute as much. And as a previous poster stated, the government has said churches needed to step up their programs. Quit telling us you are not raising taxes while you are tacking on new taxes to every service you can think of and taking away what we can now deduct. By the way–could I get in on ome of those dinners and snacks provided by lobbyists? Food has already been cut out of my budget.
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
3:20 pm
td,
Contrary to what you’ve chosen to swallow, churches are indeed selling a product for money. You’re not “giving” them money, you’re paying them for what they’re selling. So yes, they should pay taxes on it.
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
…if they’re not “selling” their product, then why do I get junk-mail advertising from them in my mail box, along with similar flyers for carpet cleaners, painting services, and chinese food? Yep. Chinese food buffets & that churched-up feeling: both for sale on Sunday mornings at a location near you!
Keep doing this GOP
March 30th, 2011
3:42 pm
Im not worried what this will do to the churches as much as orgainizations like Goodwill who will be hurt the most at the passage of this so called tax reduction bill.
One thing i do not trust is when a Republican starts messing with taxes .
Mine have gone up two years in a row. Property and that Hospital tax.
DW (the real one)
March 30th, 2011
3:52 pm
TD = total d0uche bag
deegee
March 30th, 2011
4:01 pm
I don’t completely agree that high income earners are more productive than low income earners. There are plenty of high income earners on Wall Street and K Street that have produced nothing tangible for the work that they do. On the other hand, there are thousands of school teachers and police officers that make a fraction of what a lawyer would make but are much more productive from a cost/benefit perspective. I think that taxing a high income lobbyist or pill salesrep at the same rate as a fire fighter is unfair by any measure.
DW (the real one)
March 30th, 2011
4:05 pm
^^ that rationale makes WAY too much sense for republicans though. Its all about kicking the little guy
Centrist
March 30th, 2011
4:07 pm
Why is it that it is mostly liberals doing the name calling on these posts? Maybe because there are more liberals than conservatives who patronize the AJC.
Rambunz
March 30th, 2011
4:12 pm
I say tax the churches. We need the money to go to war.
Fed Up
March 30th, 2011
4:12 pm
For all of those supporting taking away donations to churches, please do your research as to who much churches support all of our local charities. My own church annually sends $1,000,000 to local non-proft organizations that help homeless and needy individuals. Much of this support will disappear without the tax credit.
Fed Up
March 30th, 2011
4:13 pm
@GA Blue and others – read the bill..it is not taxing churches..it will be increasing the tax bill for those who GIVE to the churches by removing the existing tax credit for doing so!
LMAO
March 30th, 2011
4:16 pm
@Fed Up and others do you really think the Republicans in this state really are concerned about the unintended consequences of their actions? Its absolute power and it is corrupt.Tax and spend Republicans it is a new day.
Honest Abe
March 30th, 2011
4:21 pm
Wake up. Obama wanted to do the same thing. It’s not just churches. All charities would be hurt. Charitable deductions would go away for high-income earners. They give the most. Another bone-headed move that will wind up putting more social services in control of the state instead of non-profits as their funds will dwindle.
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
4:24 pm
Fed up,
I’m aware of that, and I oppose the bill. (Not that my rep cares what I think…) I’m not alone when I say “tax the churches!” whenever the issue of taxes comes up. I guaran-darn-TEE you that I pay a whopping portion of my middle-class, stagnant income in taxes (and “fees”) — more every year, and still more if this bill passes. I’m tired of carrying the poor, rich, and exempt on my back while corporations, utilities and insurance companies jack me up year after year while THEY get the tax breaks. It’s time for somebody else to kick in for a change so we can pay teachers & cops and fix our infrastructure already. Why can’t the churches do that? Are they greedy or something? (Nevermind. No need to answer. The war on the middle class relies on blind allegiance to churches.)
jd
March 30th, 2011
4:25 pm
Cue the chorus .. “They passed a bill without reading it”
The Snark
March 30th, 2011
4:26 pm
Last Man Standing:
The Snark believes there ought to be an honest public discussion of the link between taxes and government responsibilities. There isn’t. There is only the constant chant of “taxes bad, taxes bad” and a grossly irresponsible attitude toward the role of government.
It’s easy to complain about government and taxes until government gets to the point where (a) it has to borrow astronomical amounts to continue functioning (the federal government) or (b) it loses the ability to carry out core functions (Georgia state governement.)
And if you don’t think our state government has lost the ability to carry out core functions, then just go watch those fires burn down south and ask the emergency crews what kind of equipment and personnel they had eight years ago. Or ask any regulatory agency how much of its enforcement staff has been lost since 2002.
Last Man Standing
March 30th, 2011
4:35 pm
DW (the real one):
DW = DimWit
mjct1
March 30th, 2011
4:36 pm
I have always wanted the churches to be taxed. Then the churches can truly render the fight that the unjust need the support from. The churches will no longer have to sit back and be led by men that have faults that are not acceptable in the word. Was it not Peter that was told by Jesus to go reach into the mouth of a fish and pay your taxes. I always says that here is where we should learn that the Lord will provide. The word also covers the reality of render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and render unto God what belongs to God. We worry in the church that we will be missing something if we pay taxes. Remember, every Sunday the word go forth that the Lord will supply your every need. When the church tell the government “You no longer will buy me out with a Tax Exemption”. The Church to the Government, “You no longer will buy me out with Faith Based Programs that you the Government will give me the Money to be quiet.” The Church to the Government “I will now call upon You (Government) to operate as You were established many years ago, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, YES JUSTICE FOR ALL!!!!!!!
td
March 30th, 2011
4:40 pm
Last Man Standing
March 30th, 2011
4:35 pm
DW (the real one):
DW = DimWit
(the real one)
td
March 30th, 2011
4:52 pm
The Snark
March 30th, 2011
4:26 pm
“it loses the ability to carry out core functions (Georgia state governement.)
And if you don’t think our state government has lost the ability to carry out core functions, then just go watch those fires burn down south and ask the emergency crews what kind of equipment and personnel they had eight years ago. Or ask any regulatory agency how much of its enforcement staff has been lost since 2002.”
Maybe the answer is looking at what are the core functions of the state government. What can we do without? Should we being paying for health care coverage for 25% of the citizens of this state or should we be paying for fire coverage? Should we be subsidizing the cost of children to attend college (and I am not talking about HOPE)? Is it the states responsibility to subsidise the heating/cooling cost and housing cost for its citizens? Is it the states responsibility to pay to educate the children of illegal aliens? Are these core responsibilities of the state?
SteveK
March 30th, 2011
4:55 pm
Churches do little to nothing to help the poor. They use donations to push political agendas. TAX THEM!
findog
March 30th, 2011
5:04 pm
Well it took them three years to do transportation funding, punting it down the road another two years
What is the rush on THIS legislation, other than shifting the burden onto the middle class?
mjct1
March 30th, 2011
5:08 pm
Findog
I have to disagree with you. There is no more middle class. There is have and the rest is have not.
mjct1
March 30th, 2011
5:09 pm
As you can see. Anyone making less than 250 is poor. 250 and above is something.
Brenda
March 30th, 2011
5:09 pm
Is it more greedy for me to want to keep the money I make or for you to want to take my money from me?
td
March 30th, 2011
5:09 pm
SteveK
March 30th, 2011
4:55 pm
Churches do little to nothing to help the poor. They use donations to push political agendas. TAX THEM!
You do not have a clue what churches do. Why not try to go to one for a while and find out.
findog
March 30th, 2011
5:15 pm
LMS,
I thought DW was the boogity boogity guy on NASCAR
Brenda
March 30th, 2011
5:17 pm
Still crickets about the Ga Democrats trying to roll back the clock and elimnate Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Johns Creek and Chattahoochee Hills with a voting rights suit.
clem
March 30th, 2011
5:18 pm
The Baptists are against everything. Baptist churches are big business. They have a right wing agenda that is opposite to what most Americans believe.
td
March 30th, 2011
5:20 pm
clem
March 30th, 2011
5:18 pm
They have a right wing agenda that is opposite to what most Americans believe
Really? Please give us some example of what they believe that most americans do not?
td
March 30th, 2011
5:23 pm
Brenda
March 30th, 2011
5:17 pm
Still crickets about the Ga Democrats trying to roll back the clock and elimnate Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Johns Creek and Chattahoochee Hills with a voting rights suit.
I do not think you are going to here from any lib on these blogs to answer the question. Unless of coarse, they respond to call you a racist.
I also have an outstanding question about what they core functions of our state government should be and have heard nothing but silence.
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
5:27 pm
td,
Okay! Most Americans believe that it should not be legal to discriminate against citizens who are gay. The Baptists, through their vocal and assertive agenda, disagree. Most Georgians believe that we should be able to vote on Sunday sales in our communities. The Baptists, through their vocal and assertive agenda, disagree. Most Americans believe a woman’s medical and reproductive decisions are between her and her doctor, and not a decision of a bunch of gray-haired male congressmen in Washington DC whom they’ve never met. The Baptists, through their vocal and assertive agenda, disagree. (I used to be a Baptist, so don’t tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about.)
Give me a break
March 30th, 2011
5:29 pm
Is about time the churches get taxed. They’re the only ones who can afford to built large churches and schools. Look around your neighborhood. Which are the largest, opulent, buildings – the churches.
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
5:30 pm
Re: the white bread cities: Personally, I don’t care. I already pay city taxes in addition to county, state, and federal. Why these numbnuts voted themselves a whole additional set of taxes thinking they’d somehow save money, I can’t fathom. Having no opinion on the matter, I’m waiting to see how it plays out. It IS okay to not have an opinion right away, you know.
Let's clear a few things up...
March 30th, 2011
5:36 pm
First of all, churches do in fact pay a HUGE percentage of taxes. Every purchase of a good or service made by a church is taxed just like it is for everyone else. The “tax exempt” status of churches and charitable organizations is referring to income received by those organizations. And, of course, all of those dollars have already been taxed on the individual who makes the contribution. I don’t get the logic of you charity/church haters who want to tax the same money over, and over, and over again.
You need to be thanking the Baptist organization for speaking up because eliminating charitable deductions would actually hurt every single charitable organization (conservative AND liberal), not just churches. So, when you vote to add another tax to churches and eliminate charitable deductions, you won’t only be voting to shutdown churches but voting to eliminate your global warming organizations, HIV education, planned parenthood and your local animal shelter. You’ll eliminate cancer, MS, and Arthritis research. When your home gets blown away by a tornado or earthquake, you won’t have The Salvation Army or Red Cross there to help you. That’s just a sampling of what eliminating charitable deductions would do.
Not only that, it is important to note that Christians consistently provide 80+% of ALL charitible giving. So, it’s not like all of you church haters and haters of success aren’t already benefitting from the church. You probably already knew that, though, and just want to suck another welfare check out of the church or the government system.
Last Man Standing
March 30th, 2011
5:39 pm
findog:
“Let’s go racin’, boys!”
Yep, that is the REAL D. W.!
All Wrong
March 30th, 2011
5:43 pm
@GaBlue . . . do you really have to wonder why the “white bread cities” voted to become cities, REALLY??? They wanted to get away from the corrupt, inept, morons running Dekalb and Fulton counties and wanted to stop the drain of their tax dollars to support deadbeats . . .
Winfield J. Abbe
March 30th, 2011
5:45 pm
This stupid bill is nothing but smoke and mirrors nonsense to seek to fool others that our income tax rate is lower than other states. But isn’t the already outrageous cost of tax preparation already wasting enormous amounts of money and time of taxpayers now? This disgusting bill is going to make things worse for nothing. All of us will have to pay more money to accountants and waste more time preparing garbage for government bureaucrats as we do now. This is what needs to be changed. Kill this disgusting bill and replace it with one which eliminates all income and property taxes and forces everyone to pay sales tax on almost everything and make churches pay too. This is the only fair tax. Even drug dealers and those operating illegally on cash must buy things.
It is unconscionable to think that 159 counties in Georgia each have bureaucracies wasting time and energy valuing property and shafting all property owners to pay for education and other costs while other deadbeats have children from a little fun in the bedroom and pay nothing at all. Expletive deleted is the only proper adjective to describe this reprehensible situation our good for nothing law makers won’t touch with a ten foot pole.
All Wrong
March 30th, 2011
5:46 pm
Can anyone on this blog please address @td’s open questions??? Just like the libdems that simply throw darts and hide . . .
Last Man Standing
March 30th, 2011
5:46 pm
Let’s clear a few things up… :
You are correct on every aspect. I have limited my charitable contributions to the Salvation Army after I saw how much of every dollar received goes directly to the stated purpose. Since I now live on a fixed income (should I say “dwindling” income due to inflation?), losing the 80% tax exempt status on charitable contributions will, by necessity, have a negative impact on the amount I can donate. I’m also sure that it will impact many other people in the same way.
All Wrong
March 30th, 2011
5:47 pm
@Winfield . . .Amen . . .
rc35
March 30th, 2011
5:50 pm
Georgia Baptists, along with other Christian groups, help provide a number of social services from child care and food pantries to disaster relief and drug/alcohol recovery. At a time when religious and charitable groups are being asked to do more and more, it’s counterproductive to penalize those who want to give to support those groups.
Einsteindawg
March 30th, 2011
5:52 pm
Most of you on here are as clueless as our legislators. Rather than addressing the income side, why not better manage expenses. With a state sales tax and 7%+ local sales tax, we should have plenty of revenue. Unfortunately, we have a much bloated gov’t. Just my opinion.
td
March 30th, 2011
5:54 pm
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
5:27 pm
I think you are distorting the facts a little. I grew up a Southern Baptist and was a Sunday school teacher for a while. The Baptist as well as over 60% of this state and most other states in this country believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman only. Is this what you are talking about as discrimination? They believe that being homosexual is a sin, just like fornication and adultery are sins.
As far as abortion goes, they believe it is also a sin because it is murder to kill a unborn child. I think those figures are close to 50/50 in this country that believes the same.
Sins are sins not only against God but also against man. Most people will answer for those sins to their God and we should not judge them but t is our responsibility to point it out to them. Sounds like to me that you want to punish the Baptist for not believing the same way you do. If the Baptist (or any other religious person is wrong) then they will have to answer to the same God for their sins.
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
5:55 pm
@All Wrong, What part of “I don’t care because I already pay city taxes” is beyond you? I imagine the folks in Johns Creek wanted their own police department dedicated to protecting their fancy houses when the local high schools have their annual spring tree-rolling rituals. SO? Are you getting pizzy with me for not caring if they decide to pay more taxes? And by the way, I answered TWO of “td’s open questions.” Reading is fundamental, man. I can’t do everything for you. Learn to stand on your own two feet for once. Get a job. Get a haircut for crisesakes!
DW (the real one)
March 30th, 2011
5:57 pm
DimWit? Really? Lame
Kudos to Total D0uchebag and Last Moron Standing
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
6:01 pm
td, You’re wrong about me. I’m not into punishing people for their beliefs. Isn’t that your thing? I just want them to pay their taxes like I pay mine. I do good things too, and like the Bible says, I don’t stand on the street corner bragging about them. Verily, they have their reward (*oh snap!*) so they don’t deserve to be exempt form taxes too, while our state circles the drain.
UGADawg83
March 30th, 2011
6:03 pm
In actuality this will do little tomhurthnthe churches. Church contributions will still be deducted federally and the federal tax rates are much higher.
RGB
March 30th, 2011
6:07 pm
td is right about everything he has written and has my vote for the Upstanding Citizen of the Day.
This is in contrast to those God-mocking, Christian-hating, redistributionists who crave the soft tyranny that is today’s liberal party.
You folks should re-read td’s answers to some of the questions you posed to him. Seems he answered them all coherently. Try it some time.
We’re with you td—and also LMS.
The Mark Levin show is on. Gotta go!
td
March 30th, 2011
6:09 pm
GaBlue
March 30th, 2011
6:01 pm
Why is our state ” circles the drain.”. Is it because we do not have enough revenue coming in or taxes are not high enough? Could it be because we need to re examine what the core functions of the state should be. Should a core function of the state be paying for 25% of its citizens to have health insurance? Should a core function be to subsidize the housing, heating and cooling of its citizens? Should a core function be to subsidize the college education of students (not talking about hope)? What should be the core functions of the state be?
Remember the more actions you want the state to take care of the more taxes you will pay.
Ashley
March 30th, 2011
6:10 pm
Churches today are like shopping malls, they’re huge…all this property and its tax free, now that the real sin, More importantly if churches want to play ball in the political arena they should be prepare to pay taxes, your big-mouths and holier-than-thou rhetoric have made you fair game.
Aquagirl
March 30th, 2011
6:19 pm
Should a core function of the state be building Go Fish ramps?
Should a core function of the state be limiting alcohol sales on Sunday?
Should a core function of the state be kicking the current president off of the ballot?
Should a core function of the state be protecting citizens from microchip implants in their anal regions?
These important issues, and many more, are brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Republicans.
The party that claims they want to cut taxes are busy mutilating this tax legislation beyond all recognition, thanks to the dog whistles of their numerous masters. Republicans have been in full control of the General Assembly and the Executive branch for years. Any existing subsidies are there because they permit them. They can’t pass the buck any more.
RGB
March 30th, 2011
6:33 pm
Mocking the Holy Spirit will separate you from Almighty God for all eternity–Ashley.
Better spent a little time making sure you are comfortable with that.
Good night.
findog
March 30th, 2011
6:37 pm
Clear,
Based on you taxes logic sales taxes meet the same threshold
I pay taxes on my earnings, now I have to pay sales taxes with those funds I already paid taxes on
Therefore the State of Georgia having both income and sales taxes is double taxing all of us non-church entities
dave
March 30th, 2011
6:39 pm
Every dollar that goes to a charity, be it a church or otherwise has already been taxed. The church is people, so technically the church is ALREADY being taxed. Libs just want to control the money, so they can control the people. Their attitude is “Screw God, worship the State!” Secular fundamentalism at its best. Oh yeah, you start taxing the church, you can forget about groups like the Salvation Army and Southern Baptists coming to your aid after a tornado, ice storm, fire, etc.; they won’t have the money to do it. Forget about the food pantries, clothes closets, homeless shelters, etc., that the church provides; they’ll be gone too. And you can forget about the after-school programs, day care, kindergartens, and other things that help out the community. Think about THAT for a while.
I know
March 30th, 2011
6:55 pm
The Georgia Baptist Convention is nothing more than a money pit too. The CEO of this corrupt bunch, Robert White, steals over $500,000.oo in salary and benefits per year from Ga Baptist members and most of his buddies aka Pharisees who work with him and make over $100,000.
It is time for a reality check for these boys – their ministry is the dollar and they are worse than the politicians.
Burp Bacharach
March 30th, 2011
7:01 pm
Maybe the baptists will let their guard down if you catch them in a good mood when their drinking in the closest…
findog
March 30th, 2011
7:01 pm
td, all wrong,
The core functions of the government great State of Georgia?
Full employment of lawyers by passing insipid laws to make a point
Provide constitutional ballot questions to support weak candidates by driving up core “values voters”
To hold the halves of metro Atlanta beholden to the agrarian south through redistribution of wealth [taxes]
Provide oversight of professional licenses issued within the state through sensible and fairly applied standards
Ensure every child born gets a long form birth certificate in case they ever want to be president
Label everything with a peach despite the peanut being the top crop and South Carolina surpassing Georgia in fuzzy fruit production
Protect usury rate institutions that prey on unsophisticated borrowers like soldiers
Provide ample morale support yellow ribbons for trees near National Guard Armories; but no real monetary assistance
Demonize, reduce pay and benefits, furlough, and expand workload the common employees the state has hired
Btw, those two handles go together perfectly
Ashley
March 30th, 2011
7:01 pm
@RGB I’m not mocking the holy spirit . I’ll reserved that for the so-call Christian who try to impose their ideas on others and don’t repect someone who’s opinion is different from theirs by trying to ride roughshod on political matters with their unyielding influence and moral authority. Like they say “it cost to be the boss”. enough said
jesus
March 30th, 2011
7:02 pm
the bible is the word of man, god had nothing to do with that crap
Taxpoor
March 30th, 2011
7:07 pm
Churches do a lot of good. You should be bothered more by compa
Noes like GE getting a free pass.
Aquagirl
March 30th, 2011
7:08 pm
I wondered how long it would be before someone busted out the hellfire threats.
td
March 30th, 2011
7:21 pm
Aquagirl
March 30th, 2011
6:19 pm
“Should a core function of the state be building Go Fish ramps?”
Do you realize how much out of state revenue this has brought into the state? I think it has almost paid for the investment already and will bring a ton of money in after it is paid for.
“Should a core function of the state be limiting alcohol sales on Sunday?”
Thia has nothing to do with the functions of the state so it is irrelevant to the conversation. Unless you want to count the increase child and domestic abuse that will happen now and the additional amount of money the state will have to spend in incarcerating the offenders and taking care of the children.
“Should a core function of the state be kicking the current president off of the ballot?”
Yes, the authority of the state is to make sure the candidates are qualified to hold office.
“Should a core function of the state be protecting citizens from microchip implants in their anal regions?”
If there is a chance of this happening then yes.
Now answer my questions I posed if you dare.
Tired of BS
March 30th, 2011
7:23 pm
degee….. have you driven by a school parking lot lately? You will see more Lexus, BMW’s, high end SUV’s, or Mercedes? It ain’t parents driving those cars.
Alabama Communist
March 30th, 2011
7:27 pm
Breaking News!!!!!!!!! In a amazing display of concern, the Baptist Political Arm of the Church were stunned when it recieved 2 ancient Roman Gold Coins from a person claiming to be a Republican Tea Party Jesus who enclosed a note that said ” Refund from overpayment to Ceasar 33 AD. Since that Government does not exist anymore, Please use toward your Republican Paradise to come”
td
March 30th, 2011
7:30 pm
jesus
March 30th, 2011
7:02 pm
the bible is the word of man, god had nothing to do with that crap
Says who? You, and on what authority (education ect) do you have to make such a statement?
Aquagirl
March 30th, 2011
7:37 pm
Ah, td, I can always count on a massive logic fail from you. The consistency is strangely reassuring.
And what questions did you pose? Something earlier in this tangled mass? If it was something about microchipped bottoms I might have to pass on that one.
The Snark
March 30th, 2011
7:38 pm
td:
Good questions. There really needs to be an honest reassessment, by our entire society, of what government should and should not be doing. But there is no such assessment going on. Ony attacks on government and attacks on taxes.
According to the guys that founded this country, self-government is a sacred right. But you wouldn’t know it to listen to what passes for political discourse in this country today. We have only two political parties: one spends its time attacking the very legitimacy of the institutions it seeks to control, and the other one mostly spends its time waiting for the first one to screw up so that it can take those offices back. We deserve better, but we have to insist on it. Instead, we’re waiting for the next Tweet.
Lynne
March 30th, 2011
8:20 pm
Yes, churches should by all means be taxed. I work straight commission sales in very depressed real estate market. This past fall I was in dire financial straights, about to be evicted. I called my ‘Baptist’ church for help. They would not give me a penny. All my ‘born again’ life I tithed, was very generous with resources when able; fact Baptist church would turn away any member in need is disgusting. This church is in Peachtree City, one of most affluent places in nation to reside. Obvious PTC church NOT good stewards. So YAY…tax churches, make them accountable.
My circumstances reversed & I will happily donate to worthy causes, however that church won’t be one of them.
cs
March 30th, 2011
8:28 pm
we must cut corporate taxes and raise others because development nuts giving away taxpayer funded free land, buildings, tax abatements, etc etc etc aint good enough.
we must give more breaks for agriculture because the billions and billions they get from the federal tit aint good enough.
SteveK
March 30th, 2011
8:35 pm
Churches throw the poor in Woodruff Park and leave them to beg on the sidewalk. The real help they need is never given – mental health and addiction. The churches just give enough to be able to market themselves as helping the poor but they don’t do enough. They have to keep enough money to build mega churches and support Repulican politicians.
Thomas
March 30th, 2011
8:37 pm
Government is our enemy! We are losing this war against bureaucracy everyday a new law is passed and signed. The expansion of Government has plagued our society since the date of inception.
shadtree
March 31st, 2011
9:21 am
This shows where the Baptist church concerns are, and that is for people to get tax breaks. Why are they not contacting the legislature about how the cuts are going to hurt people that are already hurting. The churches need to stay out of politics and if they don’t they need to pay taxes just like the rest of us
Last Man Standing
March 31st, 2011
10:00 am
shadtree:
You’re advocating bringing them into the political arena by taxing them? I am a life-long Baptist. I have NEVER heard politics referenced by any pastor of the four church’s I have attended throughout my life. My feeling, as is the feeling of most Baptists that I have talked with is that we don’t want preachers talking politics from the pulpit and we don’t want politicians talking religion from their office.
why?
March 31st, 2011
10:55 am
Who cares what a bunch of crazy baptists think?
Self_Made
March 31st, 2011
11:37 am
@Brenda and her obsession with the so-called “white bread” cities. I don’t have any problem with people wanting more of their government authority closer to the individual citizen. I DO have a problem when a community like Dunwoody ROBS a county of it’s most developed and economically viable area (Perimeter CID) AFTER the ENTIRE COUNTY has paid for its construction and development, simply because it couldn’t AFFORD to be a stand alone municipality without it. That’s not racism, that’s theivery.
Self_Made
March 31st, 2011
11:40 am
As for the charitable deduction provision…people don’t pay tithes to their churches because of the tax deduction. The tax deduction DOES, however, have a significant impact on what people give to charities like Goodwill, the United Way, and the Red Cross. Those organizations would be hurt by this provision, not the churches.
Bill
April 1st, 2011
9:12 am
Hey about this. Let churches exempt the amount they use for charity. Most churchs it is under 10% of budget. That should be fair.