State Senator Introduces Bill That Would Force Churches to Pay Property Taxes

Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers certainly has a way of grabbing people’s attention.

In 2007, Chambers sued God. No, he wasn’t actually looking to collect any damage payments from a deity. He filed the lawsuit in response to conservative legislators who attempted to pass a bill banning frivolous lawsuits. Chambers, an atheist, hoped his faux lawsuit would make the point that U.S. law guarantees citizens the right to file a lawsuit against anyone for whatever reason they see fit – it’s up to courts to determine the legitimacy of a lawsuit.

Fast forward to 2014. Chambers proposed a bill this week that would require all churches in Nebraska to pay property taxes.

In order to help his bill’s cause, Chambers is arguing that churches should want to pay taxes.

Take a look: Opposing Views

Another source

About Ernie Chambers

It even says in the article he knows this legislation has a "snowballs chance in hell of passing", but I think this is meant to be a statement for when other legislation is introduced to cut community programs. If you want to look at everything to budget then lets look at everything. He even said he may attach this as amendments to bills he apposes. Ahh the political system with all the ways to kill different legislation. Whenever I see some giant mega church I often forget that it is tax free. Some religious groups have a lot of property it has gone beyond what I believe the exemption was originally meant for like Homes owned by churches avoid thousands in property taxes People live in multi-million dollar homes without paying property taxes or as an example here in Florida the Mormon church owns nearly 2% of all the land reported as 678,000 acres all tax free.

Maybe this will get people thinking about the tax free status and lead to a discussion on what is really necessary. Well one can hope right.


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reply to post by Grimpachi


This may come as a shock to some, but I don't think there should be any tax exempt status.

Churches should pay taxes.

That being said, I am also a proponent to a flat ta.

I don't care if you made 60 dollars last year.

Tax it.

If we have everyone, and I mean everyone paying taxes, maybe more people will get involved in how taxes are used.

reply to post by Grimpachi


It even says in the article he knows this legislation has a "snowballs chance in hell of passing", but I think this is meant to be a statement for when other legislation is introduced to cut community programs


Agreed, but until this Country gives up its # 1 superstition, we will still have to deal with the Proselytism of the asinine.

reply to post by Grimpachi

Wow.

While some of us are trying to get property taxes abolished, this guy actually wants more people to pay 'em...

How "free" can you truly be when you can never own property?

Thats right, you cannot own property in America.

Sure you can pay off the house but what about the land? Well, you have to lease it for eternity in the form of property taxes.

What if you dont pay these eternal lease payments? They will not only confiscate your land but also the house which sits on that land, even if its fully paid...

People really need to wake up.

beezzer
reply to post by Grimpachi

 

Churches should pay taxes.

Now, if that were the case, how could the Catholic Church maintain their untold wealth, and the Church of Scientology keep up that pyramid scheme?

In all seriousness, any entity that is able to amass wealth should pay taxes. I'd keep the exemption for those who spend every penny that came in on the betterment of their respective congregation, but...that probably wouldn't solve anything.

I'm ok with no property taxes for the church ground by they should pay tax on any other land and buildings. I wonder if Native American casinos pay property taxes.

reply to post by Hoosierdaddy71

I wonder if Native American casinos pay property taxes.

Reservations are considered a separate nation. That is like their own country or what is left of it. If they pay taxes it would be to their own government.


Hope that helps clear up the dilemma.

reply to post by Grimpachi


Wow. He just used the current law, and marked out "religion"?

LOL...that has to be the funniest thing I have ever heard coming from a legislative body.

I don't know if I agree with his politics. But I admire his moxy and love his style.

reply to post by Grimpachi


Ernie is still alive?!?
Wow! Left Nebraska after the turn of the century and thought he was bound to be done with the Unicameral sometime soon. Always a thorn in the side of all of the rich white farmers and businessmen, Ernie would always bring up craziness just to see his name in the papers. I remember when he wanted to pass legislation to pay college players, which would make them ineligible for NCAA play instantly. His ideas had as much chance of passing as Ron Paul's...

beezzer
reply to post by Grimpachi

 

This may come as a shock to some, but I don't think there should be any tax exempt status.

Churches should pay taxes.

That being said, I am also a proponent to a flat ta.

I don't care if you made 60 dollars last year.

Tax it.

If we have everyone, and I mean everyone paying taxes, maybe more people will get involved in how taxes are used.

I agree.

Federal government should tax income at a meager level to maintain basic operations and a modest military (that spends their entire time training waiting for someone dumb enough to invade us).

The states should be able to tax consumption. Again, as a modest level. With no special tax status for certain materials (like the beverage tax mafia scheme that states employ with their "tax stamp" rackets).

Municipalities should be able to tax property that is not zoned residential, and should be barred from executing funding gained from traffic and code fines as a budgetary line item in annual operating budgets. Those funds should be utilized only for what is typically a bond type of issue. Essentially, "rainy day" savings accounts to build schools, etc.

reply to post by Grimpachi


Thanks for the info. How bout income tax? I'm sure it's the same answer though.

reply to post by Hoosierdaddy71


Anything Native Americans earn off the reservation on U.S. soil is taxed by the U.S. anything earned on their nations land if taxed would go to their nation.

Reservation land is a separate country within the country. They are their own nations.

Appraise the Lord: Tax church property!

Churches should pay taxes.

That being said, I am also a proponent to a flat ta.

I don't care if you made 60 dollars last year.

Tax it.

reply to post by beezzer


I have to agree with you on this. The middle class is bearing the weight of way too much tax to help offset organizations that are tax exempt. I would also love to see a flat tax.

Grimpachi

In order to help his bill’s cause, Chambers is arguing that churches should want to pay taxes. He cites Jesus’ infamous “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” quote to support his claim. Jesus made the statement in response to someone asking him whether it was lawful for Jews to pay taxes to Caesar. The passage is often cited by Christians when discussing how believers should interact with secular government authorities.

Well this is hard to argue with on its face. Most of the reasoning behind tax exempt status has to do with the government control that could be exercised on a church by using tax as a lever.

To much misapplication by the church with this passage to justify its demands for tithes but then a hiding behind the constitution to avoid Caesar. But they have covered their azz by kissing up to Caesar in admonishing their flock to obey the civil magistrates. Which is all fine and dandy for a bunch that live off the sheep's wool while the sheep live a world were their finances and property are subject to God and Caesar. Forgetting as well that we don't live under Caesar but none the less they love the sound and tone of being on some sort of equal footing with Caesar, like a little God tax collector, separate but equal with.

facelift
reply to post by Grimpachi

 

It even says in the article he knows this legislation has a "snowballs chance in hell of passing", but I think this is meant to be a statement for when other legislation is introduced to cut community programs


Agreed, but until this Country gives up its # 1 superstition, we will still have to deal with the Proselytism of the asinine.

Oh sure and just let the government have all the fun playing church, do-gooder and helper of the poor with our tax money?

gladtobehere
reply to post by Grimpachi

 

Wow.

While some of us are trying to get property taxes abolished, this guy actually wants more people to pay 'em...

How "free" can you truly be when you can never own property?

Thats right, you cannot own property in America.

Sure you can pay off the house but what about the land? Well, you have to lease it for eternity in the form of property taxes.

What if you dont pay these eternal lease payments? They will not only confiscate your land but also the house which sits on that land, even if its fully paid...

People really need to wake up.

edit on 24-1-2014 by gladtobehere because: wording

If the churches paid taxes, maybe then the people with paid-off mortgages wouldn't need to, prorated based on senior citizen status, or extreme wealth (let them pay!)

It's one of my pet peeves to drive by the innumerable churches everywhere and every goddam one of them is empty except for a few hours on Sunday. They should be used for all manner of civic purposes; shelter for the homeless, soup kitchens, community centers, day care, libraries, and tutoring centers. They all have commercial kitchens which are very expensive to set up but would be a boon to homemade food producers to get a business started.

No building that expensive that is not paying taxes to the town it is in should go unused.

Now, if we could just get all those dead people taking up room in cemeteries (notice how the VIEW is always great there, what's up with that?) to pay taxes. Or let people be buried in their own backyards again like in the old days, and mark the spot with an acorn. We'd have lots of nice oaks by now.

"The Mighty Oak Was Once A Little Nut That Stood It's Ground" - words to die by.

Grimpachi

Whenever I see some giant mega church I often forget that it is tax free. Some religious groups have a lot of property it has gone beyond what I believe the exemption was originally meant for like Homes owned by churches avoid thousands in property taxes People live in multi-million dollar homes without paying property taxes.....

Yea well they like to talk scripture when it comes tithe and offering time but when Jesus sent His dispels out He told them not to take a money bag i.e. don't be about collecting money. When they did sell all they had and kept it in common the members shared it as they had need. It was not horded up for the disciples to build sprawling estates.

Now days you have simply a plethora of Jesus money boys, God investment jokers, secret hidden bible money codes gurus, Jesus is wealth superstars and just about everything in between. A pit of vipers.

Chambers, an atheist, hoped his faux lawsuit would make the point that U.S. law guarantees citizens the right to file a lawsuit against anyone for whatever reason they see fit – it’s up to courts to determine the legitimacy of a lawsuit.

Yep that they do and that does translate out in to the real world in a myriad of subjects.

Like health insurance for example.

That adds a lot of cost to pretty much everything in this country.

But hey make them church's pay property taxes!!!!