2 Comments
Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumblePublished Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | 9:56 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | 12:12 p.m.
WASHINGTON -- As President Barack Obama’s $3.6 trillion budget gets aired on Capitol Hill he faces resistance from some Democrats, including Rep. Shelley Berkley, who objects to his proposal to reduce tax breaks for charitable donations among those in high-wage brackets.
The Washington Post had the story from Tuesday’s House Ways and Means Committee when Berkley questioned Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on the issue:
“(Berkley) called the proposal ‘a nonstarter,’ telling Geithner: ‘I'd like to think that people give out of the goodness of their hearts, but that tax deduction helps to loosen up their heartstrings.’
“Outside the hearing, Berkley said the proposed tax increase was 'the number one issue' on the minds of her constituents over the weekend. Reminded that the provision is intended to raise hundreds of billions of dollars to finance an expansion of health insurance coverage, Obama's top domestic priority, she said: 'We can find another way.'"
I'm one of her constituents, and I'm sure this isn't one my number one issues. If the rich are so generous, let them give for the sake of giving.
This gives an idea of who among her constituents Ms. Berkley is most likely to listen to, don't it?
Obama is trying to rob charities who are struggling just to stay alive to help fund one of the greatest expansions of government spending ever.