ACR NEWSLETTER

‘In Taxes, Obama Must be Clear on Charity’

By Rep Robin Hayes
Published by The Hill newspaper
Feb. 7, 2012

For the last 3 years, we have been able to rely on President Obama for a few things in his budget proposals. Obviously increased spending comes to mind, but something else has been particularly disturbing: his attack on philanthropy and charities.

In his State of the Union address “Blueprint for an America Built to Last”, the president talked a great deal about fairness and taxes but was unclear on what he will propose this year for the charitable deduction or how he plans to encourage charitable giving. One small line in the Blueprint signals the president is shifting his stance on the charitable deduction, but we must ensure this shift does the most for charitable giving. Nonprofits play an important role in helping the needy, providing healthcare in rural areas, conducting and funding medical research, educating kids who come from tough situations, and much more. Yet every year, President Obama has insisted on proposing a reduction for itemized deductions, including the charitable deduction as a way to pay for whatever government program he wants at the moment.

While there is hope the president has heard the voices of the charitable community, he needs to be clear about his plans and there are three reasons why..

Read more at: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-a-budget/209133-in-taxes-obama-must-be-clear-on-charity