CONGRESS TEES UP NEW BILL STRIPPING PGA TOUR'S TAX-EXEMPT STATUS

[douglas9]

Barely a day after the PGA Tour shocked the world by announcing it would be joining a for-profit venture with its heretofore hated rival—the Saudi-backed LIV Golf—a Congressional bill has been introduced to strip the tour of its tax-exempt status.

On Wednesday afternoon, Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), the third-ranking minority member on the House Armed Services Committee, proposed the “No Corporate Tax Exemption for Professional Sports Act,” which would end the PGA Tour’s ability to file as an IRS 501-C organization, as it has done for decades.

As Sportico noted in a story published earlier Wednesday, the PGA Tour is one of the last major American pro sports organizations to continue operating as a federal nonprofit, after the NFL voluntarily converted to for-profit status in 2015.

Over the last 15 years, there have been several bills proposed, mostly by Republicans, that would change the Internal Revenue Code to disallow pro sports organizations earning more than $10 million in annual revenue from availing themselves of tax-exempt status.

In a statement to Sportico, Garamendi couched his rationale for the legislation in geopolitical terms.

https://www.sportico.com/leagues/golf/2023/pga-tour-tax-exempt-status-congress-bill-1234725406/

[2naSalit]

1. K&R

[Baitball Blogger]

2. kick

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. The PGA is a Non-Profit?

Give me a break!

One reason I do not watch golf.

[Escurumbele]

6. I watch and play Golf, I love the game, but I do it for the sport, not for the PGA.

Not only are they non-profit, but a ton of the people who work during tournaments, where players are making millions of dollars, are volunteers, if they are lucky they get the polo shirts they wear and some tournaments, like the Arnold Palmer, gives them a free tee-time, which is about $150.00.

They do bring sponsors who give money to the communities where the tournament is played though, so a lot of good comes from it.

The one issue they will have now is using the message that "one of the beauties of Golf is that it mimics life, there are good and bad days in Golf (which is true) and the effects of one's decisions shapes the outcome." which of course mimics life. But how do they sell now their "Core Values" (honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment.) where most, if not all, of those values have been crashed by Jay Monahan (PGA Commissioner) in one scoop?

[PJMcK]

12. Good post - I'm with you

Golf is a fiendishly wonderful game. I love to play.

This merger will destroy the game. It won’t grow it. Monahan has screwed the pooch with this act. I’m sure he personally stands to get a chunk of the Saudi’s blood-money. Such blatant hypocrisy!

[yellowdogintexas]

51. I work at the Schwab Challenge as a Temp Employee

of the Colonial Country Club (in Fort Worth); this was my sixth year. Temps are paid.

The volunteers come from all over, many of them are employees or retirees working at their employer's tent/viewing stand/venue out on the course.

Yes, I do get a pair of nice polo shirts (I have a dozen now), a nice little paycheck, and get to meet lots of really nice people from all over the country who come to our tournament.. I will continue to do this as long as I'm able to do it. One of the highlights of my year.

[whopis01]

14. The NFL was non profit until 2015

The NBA still is a non-profit org.

Sports clubs can be 501c3 organizations. Many of the professional sports organizations have taken advantage of that for years.

So yeah - organizations run by millionaires for the purposes of making millions can be non-profit.

[CrispyQ]

31. I didn't know this.

There's so much people would be outraged about if they only knew.

[whopis01]

33. Yeah. It is amazing how much is lost in the noise n/t

[DENVERPOPS]

62. Someone told me

that private country clubs/golf courses are non profit or tax exempt???????? I wonder if that is true........

[whopis01]

67. Yes. I believe they fall under 501(c)(7)

Which is the category for social and recreational clubs.

[PatSeg]

21. I have a feeling that a lot of people

had no idea it was a non-profit and most of them will not be happy about it. This is long overdue.

[Rebl2]

37. Had no

Idea they were non-profit. They certainly shouldn’t be.

[SouthernDem4ever]

50. The Masters Golf Tournament is also non-profit

[Escurumbele]

4. Very good, I hope things start happening that will make Monahan (PGA Commish) feel the

effects of his treasonous and backstabbing decision.

[Ilsa]

64. Who knows? Maybe someone sent him a bonesaw to make

a deal he cannot refuse.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Yes, but the for-profits sports get free stadiums paid by taxpayers

[Escurumbele]

8. You are correct, and it has been proven that cities do not profit from those stadiums.

It is a scam on the tax payers. For politicians it is an photo-op and nothing else.

[Igel]

60. Careful.

The NFL is non-profit.

The NFL does not own football teams.

*Teams* have stadiums built and get the money.

Think of the NFL and NBA as the net that holds all the for-profit corps in one body.

But the NFL (NBA, etc.) also has a *for*-profit division that pays taxes. Because the "net" holding all the orgs together isn't necessarily the same promoting the "NFL" brand (wait, is there an NFL brand? ...)

[Scrivener7]

7. Wait. The PGA is tax exempt??

[SunSeeker]

9. Good grief, I had no idea the PGA was tax exempt.

The PGA only cares about making money, they clearly are not a "non-profit."

[yellowdogintexas]

48. actually the PGA donates a significant amount of money

to a charity in each city where tournaments are held

https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/592774423

https://www.charlesschwabchallenge.com/charities List of non profits receiving funds from the Fort Worth tournament.

The list is not identical every year.

https://dfw501c.com/charles-schwab-challenge-names-its-charity-of-the-year/?

The Charles Schwab Challenge has made a charitable impact of more than $150 million on over 150 different organizations during the past two decades. The PGA TOUR assists approximately 3,000 charities each year. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving, and to date, tournaments across all Tours have generated more than $3.2 billion.

[More_Cowbell]

53. Nonprofits choose charities instead of paying tax for all

I don't see why ANY organization should, in lieu of paying taxes, get to pick and choose where it will donate.

They should pay their taxes and let the funds get distributed like everyone else does. I don't get to say "I don't want my tax dollars going to fund defense spending."

Charitable giving is a big hoax for corporations.

[Igel]

61. I get to donate money.

But I still pay taxes.

If I donate enough, it's tax deductible.

That's part of "civil society"--not the large non-profits, but having individuals also have a say with other individuals, not always mediated through government employees.

[3catwoman3]

63. You only get to say where your tax dollars...

…don’t go if you are against reproductive choice.

[Traildogbob]

10. After Obama won his first

Presidents race, Phil MicKelson was on the news bitching that he would have to quit golf because Obama’s tax plan would bankrupt him. He never quit, never succumbed to tax hell and is one of the richest golfers alive, he left PGA and signed up with LIV. Was paid hundreds of millions. And he is under the tax rate of billionaires which means he pays little to zero.
Real GQP Patriot, fuck those pricks. Why trump loves golf so much, the richest assholes there are gather to scheme to get more money and pay no taxes.
Stop the tax exempt bullshit across the board, churches included. Most those exemptions go to assholes trying to destroy democracy and own the country, while paying zero taxes and take everything from us. And fuck you Phil!!

[PCIntern]

11. Tired of these RW doomsayers...

If a registered Democrat who was a dog catcher were elected in Nebraska, they they would start incessant whining saying that it would undermine the integrity of the nuclear silos there, and we were all going to die.

[gab13by13]

16. 100 members of the PGA met with the commissioner

in Canada where they were playing in the Canadian Open. According to reports, 90% of the PGA golfers at that meeting were opposed to the merger. They aren't all assholes, Tiger Woods turned down 800 million dollars to join and I'm sure that Rory McIlroy turned down big bucks, but yeah, fuck Phil and fuck Jack Nicklaus. At that meeting, by the way, the majority wanted the commissioner to resign.

The majority of the PGA players did not kiss Saudi Arabia's ass.

[Traildogbob]

20. Yes

I read that and really admire those opposed. Much respect for them. Wouldn’t be surprised if Saudi buys an NFL team. Washington Commanders needs a slightly less corrupt owner, and SA could be close to their owned politicians.
Right now America has a huge For Sell sign on it. And realtors are flying balloons over it to show their clients (Russia and Saudi) for bidding wars.

[SouthernDem4ever]

56. Be nice if they all left and started their own league.

Don't know if it's possible, but I can dream. Until then, pro golf is off my list.

[CrispyQ]

32. We need this bumper sticker:

If we taxed the richest people in the country,
they'd still be the richest people in the country.

[Traildogbob]

34. So true.

[yellowdogintexas]

52. definitely nt

[Rebl2]

39. Oh I

certainly remember that. At the time he did advertising for drug called Enbrel, which I was taking at that time. I thought he was a jerk. You are making millions golfing and you have side gigs doing ads for a pharmaceutical company. You can afford to pay taxes in this country!

[AllaN01Bear]

40. please note : many churches do the walk including the one i belong to.

please do not paint with a broad brush. thank you.we have a very active food bank. when there are fires in the area and people who lost everything , our thrift store kicks into high gear and allows people to get clothes and things for free. we also support a shower bus. what have u done to help the poor?

[Traildogbob]

41. good on you

I have done more than we have time to discuss and continue to do. But I still pay taxes. I stand by freedom of religion, until they start creating laws and demand we all follow their religious beliefs. And I will remove the broad brush when the GOOD religions speak out against the massive grift a huge majority of them are. Kudos for you and your church. It seems to be a pillar of your community. And your congregation will end up where the likes of ole Pat is not. I get your point, you do it right, but the mega billion dollar churches that want to rule the country through legislation need to pay taxes. It’s a shame small churches that do right, live by Christ's teachings and get stuck in with the Pat type BS. And as I tell my Christian family, all GQP, name me what GQP does that follow those teachings. Name one commandment trump has not broken. They can’t. When I see a church stand up and speak out, vigorously about the cult that are nothing but thieves, I would join that church. There are hundreds of religious channels on Sat TV and cable. With that platform how many voice opposition to GOD personally sending trump as his peep?
Good on you and your church, until you want to create laws and policies that I will pay for while you get tax exempt status.
If the religion wants to be the government and make rules, then they must help pay for the things they demand the rest of us pay for.
We do need many more like your congregation. And you are an extreme minority.
Lots of bibles were in hand when the Native Americans were slaughtered and while beating and hanging black slaves. Preaching, this is gods will. And are now welcoming ole Pat at whatever gate they are behind.

[yellowdogintexas]

47. Ironically, churches you describe are also

going to adhere to the separation of church and state and keep politics out of everything that is officially said. These churches and their staff prefer to be judged by actions, not words.

Our (very large) United Methodist Church did not even bring up the discussion of leaving the UMC. Our recently retired senior minister has spent the last year helping start up a new progressive congregation in a very red area of our county.

[AllaN01Bear]

58. my late mom once said " the moral majiority is either and neither.

a friend of mine once went to a well known mega church with 500 per service and she asked what do u do for the poor , their response was , o "them" and out of her mouth came the parable of the camel fitting through a needle . their mouths dropped .

[Traildogbob]

59. 👏👏

[Shoeless Louis]

45. Render unto Caesar, while your church is trying to tell me what to do, you can pay taxes.

[Skittles]

65. just so you know

you don't need religion to help people

oh, and what have I done - for example, I have donated 62 GALLONS of platelets to help save lives....all without the guy in the sky

[gab13by13]

13. Yesterday on Nicolle Wallace,

Paul Rieckoff was a guest, he called the PGA people who merged with LIV, traitors.

[tanyev]

15. Prediction: Now that a Democrat has proposed a bill,

all those Republicans that proposed bills in the past will suddenly realize they're opposed to it.

[TheRickles]

19. Probably, possibly - but they still might be able to unite on this one.

[tornado34jh]

17. When have sports not been corrupted by money?

IOC, FIFA, now PGA, they sold out a long time ago. Don't get me wrong, I like watching sports, but I am just amazing at how much people are willing to sell themselves for money even if it is being part of something funded by questionable people.

[twodogsbarking]

18. As a retired CPA I say scrap the tax code and start over.

[Mopar151]

28. Ought to fit in a 3ring binder! mt

[twodogsbarking]

35. SALY.

[Farmer-Rick]

22. It's just amazing that I have to pay taxes on the measley $700 in SocSec

I get a month as survivor benefits, while a $10 Million a year sports organization pays nothing.

I guess someone has to pay taxes when we let the filthy rich live Scott free.

[NCjack]

25. Golfing is expensive. That is why golfers look for every opportunity

to pass the costs to others. Especially condo associations that put the maintenance of golf courses into the general fees that apply to all association members, including those that don't golf.

Golfing is a racket that should be taxed.

[Traildogbob]

43. My dad passed in

January. He lived in Augusta. As we tried to clean his house and get it ready to be taken over by reverse mortgage, I mentioned it to my dentist, a golf fanatic. He said, and this was the beginning of the Masters, we could rent it for $1,000 a day during the event. That the demand would blow my mind. Those are not hard working middle class folks. That is a whole world of extremely wealthy people that play and just wanna watch. The big cash makers are organizers and golf boards. I say fine, do your thing but merging with a terrorist state that murders its citizens for some of their cash, spitting in the faces of most Americans, that’s a line crossed for tax exemption status.
And I NEVER have to be in Augusta again. Thank God.

[Skittles]

66. so it is an elitist "sport"

damn straight it is a fucking racket

[niyad]

23. These f'n money-making machines (pro sports) are ttax-exemot??? By what

F'n reason/logic?????

[Lonestarblue]

24. Nonprofit status needs to be taken away from a lot of profit-making organizations that are

actually businesses. Mega churches are little more than businesses making its pastors millionaires.

No wonder we do not take in enough revenue when there seem to be tax exceptions for many businesses and wealthy people—but not for average workers whose every penny earned is reported to the IRS for taxation.

[dlk]

30. Churches that get involved in politics shouldn't qualify for tax-exempt status

The Catholic Church is the largest property owner in the world, tax-free un the US.

[Duppers]

26. Why did it ever have tax exempt status

To begin with?

[jaxexpat]

27. Who'd have guessed?

It just takes treason for the GOP to pretend they're against it.

[BComplex]

29. Now we need to get rid of the tax exempt status for political activist churches.

Which is the ENTIRE Southern Baptist conference, the Catholic church, and all evangelical churches.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

36. Absofuckinglutely!

[yellowdogintexas]

46. Thank you for specifying "Political Activist Churches"

The rule in the religious tax exemption is that the minister(s) must not tell the congregation how they should vote. It's ok to tell them all the opinions about issues, one way or another but not try to directly influence who should get their vote.

As we all know, there are plenty of conservative far right churches where the preachers/leaders preach this stuff all the time. If the message isn't in the sermons, it is on literature handed out by members with pushcards that members take to the polls with lists of the 'correct' people to vote for.

My church (and I suspect most United Methodist Churches) adheres to the tax rules. No political organization is allowed to use any part of our facility for any purpose (we have tons of available space). You will never hear any of our staff bring up voting choices or specific issues from the pulpit. Our ministers are not personally profiting from the church - they are paid a salary which is approved by the Board.

We have a huge outreach program and our mission is chartered under a separate non profit from the church. Our Justice Ministry which provides legal and social work services to indigent women who are in abusive relationships is a different 503c non profit. The community services we provide are a very clear indicator of our stance on everything.

[kimbutgar]

38. My 92 mother in law who loves watching golf yesterday told me she was disgusted and won't be

Watching golf anymore.

She brought it up in a conversation which surprised me,

[housecat]

42. A list of for-profits listed as "non-profit" would curl your toes. Taxing religion alone

would go far balancing the budget. We need a new definition of "non-profit."

[republianmushroom]

44. I like it

[3825-87867]

49. Wonder how much new tax revenue will go where?

If it's like penalties for business caught doing nasty, I'd be surprised if it didn't add to a "general fund" that more than likely would go to other less needful items instead of helping those who need help.

[louis-t]

54. DO IT!!!!

[Ferrets are Cool]

55. While I have no problem with this proposed legislation, it is hypocritical coming from US Congress

when we sell BILLIONS of $$ of arms to SA.

[twodogsbarking]

57. That will show them.