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Responding to reports that pro-Huckabee pastors have received anonymous mailings warning them that their advocacy could put their churches' tax-exempt status at risk,
If they're advocating from the pulpit for any candidate, then yes, their tax-emempt status should be revoked.
It felt odd yet good, real good, as I changed my party affiliation from Democrat to Republican so I could vote for Ron Paul in New Hampshire.
When I heard that Fox was not going to allow him to join in the debate over the weekend, I called the NH republican committee and voiced my disapproval They agreed that with the state's motto being "Live Free or Die," it would be wrong not to have liberty's champion.
Apparently someone is trying to "smear" Huckabee by planting the seed that his "FairTax" plan could negatively impact finances of religious organizations by removing the tax advantage of charitable donations. I have been curious about this, and have been wondering why the religious right does not seem concerned.
As described on Huckabee's website, he advocates completely doing away with the IRS and the current income tax, replacing it with a "FairTax" on consumption. Part of this system would be rebates to low-income people, to make it a little "progressive". However, no mention is made of the impact this would likely have on charitable giving (no longer a tax deduction) -- or on home ownership (mortgage interest also no longer a deduction).
Some of the aspects of the FairTax seem attractive, but I doubt that it would be revenue-neutral, as claimed by Huckabee.
I'd appreciate comments from anyone that has insights about this issue.
