Did the Mormons lie about Prop 8 $$?

Comments

1. Strict Scrutiny on Jan 15, 2009 10:19:33 PM:

   The California Supreme Court need look no further for justifications for striking down Prop 8.

   How do you figure, Chris? This is apples and oranges. I don't think failure to properly report contributions speaks to the validity of Prop 8 as an amendment to the California constitution.

   
   

1. Hawyer on Jan 16, 2009 10:16:07 AM:

   Chris - here's the constitutional issue as I see it: Corporations chartered under IRS category 501(c)(3)are exempt from federal and state income tax. States also universally exempt non-commercial church-owned property from ad valorem and school taxes.

   In addition - and this may be the most important point of all - contributors to such corporations do not have to pay federal or state income tax on their contributions.

   Whereas retail expenditures are taxed twice (once when you make the money & once when that money becomes income for the vendor), income to churches get a double multiplier of tax exemption. I'll not bore you with the macroeconomic formula!

   This is why owning a church is the subterfuge of choice for those on the take, BIG.

   In exchange for this rarefied free-ride, such corporations may not put money into political activity. (There are certain exemptions for lobbying when it involves legislation that impacts the so-called beneficent work of such corporations.)

   The Mormons have clearly made a decision to run roughshod over their tax status, banking on their piety to shelter them from the IRS's wrath.

   Notwithstanding the suffocating hypocrisy of having the Mormon's lecture me about redefining marriage. Give me a fucking break. The Federal Government made the Mormons redefine marriage before it could be admitted to the union.

   I say - I want to see their books NOW - and let the IRS make a test case out of these dissembling bastards. Watch the preachers come out of the woodwork like roaches in the dark.

1. Chuck on Jan 17, 2009 6:38:02 PM:

   I'm with you 100% Hawyer. These hypocrites operate under and have the blessings of the government for operating an underground movement whose practices and actions are beyond question or revelation.

   I want to see their books NOW as well. The IRS doesn't let the Mafia get away with screwing the people and the government out of money, as well as our rights, why should we allow the Mormon Church to get away with it?

1. North Dallas Thirty on Jan 18, 2009 2:03:57 AM:

   The funny part is that I'm sure everyone else here can come up with excuses for why LGBT organizations like Californians Against Hate, which exist to agitate solely for political purposes and nothing else, are tax-exempt.

   Meanwhile, the fact that the Mormons are being attacked, and not the predominantly-black churches, the predominantly-Hispanic churches, the conservative Jewish synagogues, and the mosques that also supported and funded Proposition 8, makes it obvious that this is little more than antireligious bigotry being directed at a target that the LGBT leadership, given their misguided view of Christians and religious people, believes to be an easy one.

1. Brian Miller on Jan 18, 2009 3:48:31 AM:

   Chris, I don't understand why you're so cynical!

   We should give the Mormons at least as much of a chance to redeem themselves as you're demanding for Obama. Anything else would be a double standard. ;)

1. Hawyer on Jan 18, 2009 12:58:19 PM:

   NDT - as usual you are wrong - so don't think you're going to slide Californians Against Hate's "tax exempt" status as equivalent to a church. And as usual, mopping up after you have slung something against the wall requires some effort, not just bloviation. So here's the link:

   http://www.t-tlaw.com/lr-05.htm

   Synopsis: a 501(c)(4)(Californians Against Hate) corporation is chartered specifically to engage in political activities so as to clearly decouple it from 501(c)(3) corporations (churches) which CANNOT.

   Contributions to 501(c)(4)'s ARE NOT tax deductible, to the extent (percentage) of the group's activities are devoted to political activities.

   If a 501(c)(4) fails to disclose such to his contributors, it must pay tax at the highest corporate rate on such percentage of its activities, which is presumably 100% in the case of Californians Against Hate.

   The so-called "tax exempt" status of 501(c)(4) applies to its non-for-profit designation. To the extent there are any retained earnings, it is taxable to the full extent of the IRS code plus a substantial penalty.

   Most all PAC's (Political Action Committees) are 501(c)(4) corporaitons.

1. North Dallas Thirty on Jan 20, 2009 3:59:18 AM:

   Wrong answer, Hawyer.

   Californians Against Hate is organized as a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.

   Second off, you missed the part in your own quote about how 501(c)(4) organizations are only allowed to do anything related to political campaigns if, quote, "such activities are insubstantial in relation to its overall activities", and how they most certainly can deduct contributions that they use for "administrative activities".

   Given that all Californians Against Hate exists to do is to politick, that is not insubstantial.

   Aside from your being incorrect on the law -- and now embarrassingly caught quoting a source that demonstrates how you ignore the behavior of gay organizations clearly doing that which you accuse churches of doing -- the other fact still stands: namely, the fact that the Mormons are being attacked, and not the predominantly-black churches, the predominantly-Hispanic churches, the conservative Jewish synagogues, and the mosques that also supported and funded Proposition 8, makes it obvious that this is little more than antireligious bigotry being directed at a target that the LGBT leadership, given their misguided view of Christians and religious people, believes to be an easy one.

1. Chuck on Jan 20, 2009 9:18:03 PM:

   "the LGBT leadership, given their misguided view of Christians and religious people"

   How could we have failed to see that, all this time, Christians and religious people have loved us unconditionally, welcomed us with open arms and gone way out of their way just make us happy?

   Wherever did I mislay my hair shirt and my leather flogger?

   Mea culpa.