Obama-Hatch Tithing Bill

[Cobalt Violet]

http://obama.senate.gov/press/061206-congress_passes_obama-hatch_tithing_bill/index.html

Congress Passes Obama-Hatch Tithing Bill
Clarifies Treatment of Charitable Contributions in Bankruptcy Law

WASHINGTON - The House of Representatives today gave final approval to a bill sponsored by Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) to protect an individual's right to continue reasonable charitable contributions, including religious tithing, during the course of consumer bankruptcy. The measure passed the United States Senate in late September and will now be presented to the President for his signature.

"Congress has a long history of protecting our religious freedom to tithe," Hatch said. "That was our intent when we enacted bankruptcy reform last year, and this bill clarifies the law so that those who tithe can continue to live their faith while in bankruptcy."

"For millions of Americans, charitable giving and tithing is an essential part of their lives," Obama said. "And in a country where 37 million citizens live in poverty, we should be encouraging charitable giving, not limiting it."

The Hatch-Obama bill, S. 4044, responds to a recent court ruling that above-medium income debtors in Chapter 13 bankruptcy cannot deduct charitable contributions, including religious contributions, from their payment plans. The ruling was based on an interpretation of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA). Hatch and Obama authored S. 4044 to ensure that all individuals in bankruptcy, no matter their income, would be able to continue giving to charity and their church.


http://hatch.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=1694&Month=12&Year=2006&IsTextOnly=True

CONGRESS PASSES HATCH-OBAMA TITHING BILL
Clarifies Treatment of Charitable Contributions in Bankruptcy Law

Washington – The House of Representatives today gave final approval to a bill sponsored by Sens. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) to protect an individual’s right to continue reasonable charitable contributions, including religious tithing, during the course of consumer bankruptcy. The measure passed the United States Senate in late September and will now be presented to the President for his signature.

“Congress has a long history of protecting our religious freedom to tithe,” Hatch said. “That was our intent when we enacted bankruptcy reform last year, and this bill clarifies the law so that those who tithe can continue to live their faith while in bankruptcy.”

"For millions of Americans, charitable giving and tithing is an essential part of their lives," Obama said. "And in a country where 37 million citizens live in poverty, we should be encouraging charitable giving, not limiting it."

The Hatch-Obama bill, S. 4044, responds to a recent court ruling that above-medium income debtors in Chapter 13 bankruptcy cannot deduct charitable contributions, including religious contributions, from their payment plans. The ruling was based on an interpretation of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA). Hatch and Obama authored S. 4044 to ensure that all individuals in bankruptcy, no matter their income, would be able to continue giving to charity and their church.


This was passed a few months ago but only seemed to have been discussed in the Atheist and Agnostics group.

[vi5]

1. So do I understand this correctly?

So if I give $100 to my local soup kitchen to help them feed the homeless in the area, that is viewed the same as my parents giving $100 to their church for renovating their pews or putting in new windows?

[Cobalt Violet]

3. I believe that's true.

Same thing right?

[WolverineDG]

4. They're viewed the same right now for tax purposes

I should know. I give to both my church and other local charities.

So it's only logical that this should carry over into that horrid bankruptcy law. Hopefully, they'll undoo more of it.

dg

[salin]

2. Predictable future headline story:

Neil Bush back in bankruptcy - giving huge gifts to school districts for them to buy his "educational" products.

[Cobalt Violet]

5. His ilk will no doubt manipulate this.

Just like they manipulate everything they do for their own purposes.

[Freddie Stubbs]

6. So, despite his inexperience, he has been able to get things done

[progressoid]

7. "...religious freedom to tithe" WTF?

That's almost as good as, 'limiting campaign donations limits freedom of speech'.

And then there is this gem, "... in a country where 37 million citizens live in poverty, we should be encouraging charitable giving, not limiting it." WOW. My irony meter broke when I read that one.

[neebob]

8. Kick

Does everybody get what tithing is? It's like a tax that you pay to your church. The Mormon church, for example, expects its members to pay 10 percent of their income - and that's not net but gross, if I remember correctly. It rakes in billions a year that way, which it uses to ... uh ... nobody knows, because the funds are controlled by ONE MAN and there's no accounting to the membership.

And Mormin Hatch and his pal here are basically making sure that The Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other so-called churches - some of which, I grant, may be real churches - don't have to detach their giant money-sucking hoses from all the bankrupt people.

It's not a charitable contribution. Everybody gets this, right?