Nebraska State Senator Wants Churches To Pay Taxes

[frogmarch]

http://chadrad.com/newsstory.cfm?story=32482

LINCOLN, Neb. (ASSOCIATED PRESS) - A Nebraska senator who once sued God is joining this year's tax-reform debate with an idea of his own: a tax on church property.

The Legislature's Revenue Committee will review a bill Friday that would eliminate a state property-tax exemption for religious organizations.

Sen. Ernie Chambers will argue that his bill carries out what Jesus urged his followers to do. Chambers says Jesus encouraged his followers to "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's," when asked whether taxes should be paid.

Chambers, an atheist, famously sued in God in 2007 to make the point that anybody can file a lawsuit against anybody. The measure is unlikely to advance out of committee. But Chambers says he may attach it as an amendment to other bills he opposes.

The bill is LB675.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Chambers

Ernie Chambers has been in my local news a lot lately for trying to stop the legalized hunting and killing of mountain lions in Nebraska.

[Swede Atlanta]

1. Completely agree.....

I am a Christian who is active in my Protestant church but I agree that church property should not be exempt from property taxes except to the extent the property is used for charitable activities.

In a secular society I do not consider "saving souls" to be a charitable activity. It may be an honorable one but it does not satisfy a secular definition of "charitable".

If we look at the great edifices that have been built to honor God from the huge mega-churches to cathedrals, etc.. a tremendous amount of wealth is poured into them and they often sit on prime real estate (NYC's St. Patrick's cathedral a case in point).

That land could be used for other purposes and would generate tax revenue. I am not opposed to a formula whereby a portion of the property could be exempt based on "charitable" activities such as feeding, clothing and housing the needy, etc.

These kinds of changes might encourage churches/synagogues/mosques/temples, etc. to engage in activities that benefit society during the here and now.

[freshwest]

5. Best case I've heard yet. Thanks. n/t

[Mr Dixon]

2. IMO

LONG OVERDUE

[Liberal In Texas]

3. Ernie has been a gadfly to the Unicameral in Nebraska

since 1970.

Go Ernie!

[frogmarch]

4. So far,

two people have posted supportive responses at the news link. DUers perchance?