And the crazy just continues. Jan Brewer signs law allowing churches political power.

[jillan]

There is a mega-church on every corner around here.

http://newmexicoindependent.com/69650/arizona-gov-brewer-signs-bill-allowing-churches-political-power

Senate Bill 1282 will create a statue explicitly allowing any religious assembly or institution to speak out on political issues without having to register as a political action campaign, provided the organization “does not spend a substantial amount of time or assets, within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, on influencing any federal state or local legislation, referendum, initiative or constitutional amendment. ”

The content of the bill is pretty sparse, opening up a broad interpretation for “substantial amount.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

I could've sworn that these teabaggers were all about the Constitution.

[RagAss]

1. Fuck the Constitution...Jan Brewer has spoken !

[spartan61]

2. Will the churches still be exempt from

having to pay taxes?

[Zanzoobar]

3. This is not a constitutional issue

It's a tax issue. A church should be able say whatever it wants. Tax them as corporations and keep them within the bounds of corporate law.

[Terra Alta]

4. So the separation of church and state means nothing to Brewer?

I guess she is trying to get on the teabaggers' good side after vetoing their insane birther bill.

[RKP5637]

5. Right back to the dark ages. I wonder when the public crucifications will begin. n/t

[Canuckistanian]

6. Fuck, it's like fighting thousands of little fires at once

Just as one is almost put out, another one flares up.

This is coordinated.

[jillan]

7. That is exactly how I feel. The crazy is coming from every direction these days.

[RKP5637]

10. Eventually we'll be just like the people off the deep end on religions as in

other countries. These people want a theocracy, and we know how well that works in other countries. Everyday in this country brings yet another WTF. This is becoming the country of loony tunes.I wouldn't even drive through a corner of AZ. So glad I never go there on business anymore.

[jillan]

11. My family is in Chicago - they've all told me that I have to come there, they're done coming to Az.

:(

[RKP5637]

12. I can't say I blame them. AZ's getting a horrible reputation IMO. n/t

[lunasun]

16. Im in Chicago = same here will not visit brother but he is coming here in Dec.

and is eventually moving to San Diego .....good for him but till then will not put one tourist dime into AZ!

[RKP5637]

19. Years ago I used to negotiate business deals in AZ for my company. Today, I

would not put one cent into the AZ economy as a business person. It's just gotten too freaky in AZ for investments. It just doesn't end in AZ. It's one thing after another and it's about suppression and control of people. There are too many other places to work business deals.

[Liberal Gramma]

8. Doesn't that cost them their tax-exempt status? It should.

[jillan]

9. They have put wording in the bill that protects the churches from Government intrusion.

Quoting here:

This bill protects churches from government intrusion into their religious practices and message. Government officials should not be monitoring a pastor’s religious speech from the pulpit to determine whether it is “too political.” This is excessive entanglement of the government with religion and is not constitutionally permissible.

[Common Sense Party]

21. Which political speech would cause a church to lose their exempt status?

Endorsing a candidate?

A sermon about abortion?

A sermon about civil rights? Human rights? Worker's rights?

A sermon about loving one's fellow man, woman and child, regardless of gender, sexual status, income, race or religion?

A sermon about helping the poor?

When does speech become political? What topics or off-limits?

[Skip_In_Boulder]

13. Asserting the states power into the federal domain

These people just don't learn do they? But unfortunately we will now have to spend large amounts of taxpayer money to run this through the courts so we can tell them that they can't do this. Baggers are a drain on society at many different levels.

[pacalo]

14. Our founders came to America to get away from religious rule!

[RKP5637]

17. Exactly! Now, I wonder how they would feel if the Church of Satan moved in

and spewed some real political rhetoric against the pious teabaggers. After all, this is for all religions, or are they going to next list which religions it's applicable too.

[Zanzoobar]

20. You mean from religious persecution

Religious rule was fine if it was their religious rule, which of course included religious persecution.

[Adsos Letter]

22. True statement; the Puritans were in no way tolerant of pluralism within their commonwealth.

[Lyric]

15. They've basically seceded from the Union in all but name at this point.

This kind of sustained, aggressive rejection of the rule of Constitutional law is about as close to open rebellion as you can get without actually declaring your intentions.

[lunasun]

18. let em leave and take Texas with them! Secede Away

[hfojvt]

23. they already can do that

did I miss something here?

In fact this sounds like a restriction. "provided the organization “does not spend a substantial amount of time or assets, within the meaning of section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, on influencing any federal state or local legislation, referendum, initiative or constitutional amendment. ”"

For example, didn't the LDS and the Catholic churches spend substantial sums to influence Proposition 8?