Seriously now -- how about similar tax deductions for the atheists???!!!
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20010130/ts/bush_faith_dc_6.html
Cherio......... Roy Beavers (EMFguru) roy@emfguru.com It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness..... WEBSITE: http://emfguru.com People are more important than profit$$
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Tuesday January 30 3:26 PM ET
Bush Proposes Tax Deductions for Faith-Based Giving
By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Tuesday proposed increasing tax deductions to faith-based organizations in hopes of triggering billion of dollars in new donations.
Bush visited the Fishing School, a religious-oriented community center in Washington for inner-city children, to give a broad outline of his legislative proposals for giving more federal dollars to faith-based groups that grapple with social problems like alcoholism, homelessness and drug abuse.
``There are so many people in need,'' Bush said to cries of ''Amen'' from the audience. ``The good news about America is there are so many willing to serve. It's the great strength of our nation.''
Bush's proposals are raising questions among some critics as to whether they cross the constitutional boundary between church and state and whether they would lead to discrimination.
A number of groups -- including Americans United for Separation and Church and State, the National Association of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union -- wrote an open letter to Bush on Tuesday calling for clarity in putting his faith-based plan into practice.
``As someone committed to uniting the American people, we hope that you will agree with us and confirm your opposition to government-funded religious discrimination,'' the letter read. ``It would be unconscionable that a want ad for government-supported social services could read, for example, ``Catholics and Jews need not apply.''
Deduction Available To All Taxpayers
Bush's proposed extending to all taxpayers the federal charitable tax deduction, which allows people who itemize on their taxes to deduct money given to charity from their taxable income.
Bush's plan would allow the 80 million people who take the standard deduction, and do not itemize, to deduct for their donations to charity. Bush believes that may boost charitable giving by billions of dollars, funding private groups that the White House thinks are better at providing services than the government.
Bush also proposed raising the cap on corporate charitable deductions. Corporations would be permitted charitable donations until their value exceeds 15 percent of the company's taxable income, instead of the 10 percent under current law.
He would also create a ``compassion capital fund,'' that would match private giving with federal dollars to pay for increased technical assistance to help small community and faith-based charities increase their capacity, and provide start-up capital to help smaller groups expand.
Bush offered no cost for his proposal. But during the presidential campaign his faith-based tax deduction plan was projected to cost about $8 billion a year.
After-School Programs
The president also called for expanding after-school programs for low-income children and for creating a test program using faith-based groups to provide mentoring for the children of prisoners.
Standing at Bush's side at the Fishing School was Democratic Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who was on the losing Democratic presidential ticket with Al Gore.
Lieberman told reporters that he supported the general principles of Bush's plan but noted that the devil was in the details.
``I think we can do it without going across any constitutional lines, separation of church and state. And we can do it in a way that does not favor faith-based groups but gives them an equal opportunity to be part of solving a lot of our problems,'' he said.
Bush, who ran for president as a ``compassionate conservative'', has said the faith-based programs are more able than the government to reach out to society and handle tough problems like alcoholism, drug addiction or homelessness.
Earlier Stories
Bush to Unveil Plan to Fund Faith-Based Groups (January 30)
Bush Establishes Faith-Based Office at White House (January 29)
Bush Sets Up Faith-Based Office at White House (January 29)
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--
Roy Beavers (EMFguru)
roy@emfguru.com
It is better to light a single candle
than to curse the darkness.....
WEBSITE: http://emfguru.com
People are more important than profit$$
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