Senator Baucus (D-MT) backs televangelist probe

[babylonsister]

Senator backs televangelist probe

2 Senators Join Forces to Seek Answers From 'Prosperity' Preachers

ERIC GORSKI
AP News

Mar 12, 2008 17:00 EST

The Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee has thrown his support behind an investigation of allegations of lavish spending and lax oversight at a half-dozen "prosperity gospel" Christian ministries.

Sen. Max Baucus of Montana joined with Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa in urging cooperation from four ministries questioned by Grassley in early November, according to a statement Wednesday from the Iowa senator's office.

Three of those ministries have pledged to fight the inquiry. The follow-up letters from the two senators gave them a March 31 deadline for turning over the requested information.

Having Baucus on board is crucial for any potential bid to seek subpoenas forcing answers from uncooperative ministries. Grassley critics, including Creflo Dollar, one of the ministers not cooperating, have portrayed the senator as a renegade who has no real power because his party is in the minority.

The follow-up letters do not mention subpoenas specifically but express hope that the requested information can be obtained "without resorting to compulsory process."

Some ministries have said Grassley's inquiries about private planes, oceanside mansions, board oversight and involvement in for-profit businesses should be handled by the Internal Revenue Service, but the latest letters cite the Finance Committee's jurisdiction measuring the effectiveness of tax-exempt policy, saying that role is distinct from the IRS job of enforcing existing law.

more...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/03/senator_backs_televangelist_pr.php

[theHandpuppet]

1. Great! about damn time, too

I wish them luck in pursuing this even though I hold out little hope they'll be able to really nail these snake oil salesmen.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Tough Times For The "Electric Church"

For years religious broadcasting has expanded into every nook and cranny of the radio dial...and TV preachers could shake the bible and make the phones ring. But that doesn't jive during a bad economy...and neither does a preacher who lives high on the hog.

I give props to Chuckles Grassley for starting the ball rolling here...and doing so in what he surely knows is stirring up a hornet's nest in his own hive. Those preachers, like Hagee, throw millions into GOOP coffers and get endorsements and political cover from these goons.

But there's a part in me that says that if someone wants to throw their money at a charlatan, so be it. No difference in my book than running to the local gabmling boat and throwing it away there. After all these years, if people aren't aware of the big money games a TV preacher plays, this is how they learn.

[sharp_stick]

3. Every one of those pricks

should be audited yearly and forced to pay taxes on every nickle. I'm tired of seeing charlatan assholes prey on the elderly and weak of society and these "churches" are some of the worst vultures around.