Senate pulls "Faith-Based Initiative" for now, but it will be back - S.476 include special tax breaks to powerful land trusts when buying up property

Alert from American Land Rights Association

4/5/04

TAX FAVORITISM for the multi-billion dollar land trusts may be losing
ground! Fiscal responsibility and private property rights may be WINNING!

The United State Senate this week pulled from consideration Senate bill
S.476, called the "Faith-Based Initiative." However, it will be back again
next week, the week of April 7 to 11.

S. 476 includes a provision that allows the Nature Conservancy and other
powerful land trusts a special tax break when buying property - at the
expense of private schools, churches and private sector, who are all placed
at a comparative disadvantage.

The Nature Conservancy has THREE BILLION dollars in assets, and an
annual income in 2001 of $732 million dollars - tax free, tax
exempt!!! And yet the land trusts want more, more and more special tax
breaks in addition to the billions already mooched from the tax code!!!

S. 476 was pulled from consideration because of objections to several parts
of the bill, of which the Land Trust Tax Favoritism was just one
part. However, the land trusts see this as a fantastic gravy train for
themselves, and will make a major push again next week.

**** PLEASE - ALL OUT GRASSROOTS ACTION ALERT!!! ****

SEE ACTION ITEMS BELOW!!!

ONE) Multi-BILLION dollar land trusts handed special tax breaks!

TWO) Enviros made eligible for EVEN MORE grant money!

NEXT WEEK, the week of April 7 to April 11, the Senate will vote on S. 476.

S. 476, "CARE" Act, Sections 106 and 107

Here is a description of the tax favoritism for environmental groups and
government agencies - at the expense of faith-based non-profits such as
churches and private schools - that has been inserted into the Faith Based
Initiative.

It is S.476, Sections 106 and 107, called the "CARE" Act, which began as
the President Bush's Faith Based Initiative bill. It states that on sales
of land and water rights, the seller will have his capital gains tax
reduced by 25% - ONLY if he sells to an environmental group or a government
agency. The usual taxes apply if the land or water rights are sold to a
non-environmentalist non-profit, or to a private party.

This places at a competitive disadvantage the following:

a) All non-profits that are not "conservationist" environmental groups,
including churches, orphanages, private schools, and social service agencies.

b) All private parties who may want to purchase will also have to bid a
higher amount, in order to compete with the tax break accruing to the
seller - only if he sells to an environmental group or to a government agency.

c) In areas, usually in the western U.S., where the federal government
already owns most of the land, this proposal will accelerate turnover of
property to the government and resulting loss of tax base for
municipalities and economic activity for communities.

d) In many cases, the land owner who is selling the land will not even
benefit. When other parties are discouraged from bidding, the
environmental group can lower their bid by the amount of the tax break. So
the only beneficiary is the environmental group.

ALSO - Environmental and animal rights causes are being treated THE
SAME AS religious groups in competition for federal taxpayer-financed
grant money!!!

Mr. David Kuo, of the Office of Faith Based Initiatives, said that the
Environmental Protection Agency's efforts to include green causes is a
"great" idea, according to CNS news. And David Riggs of Greenwatch stated,
"The bureaucracy is taking this as an opportunity to further fund liberal
green causes."

Chris Horner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute warned that the
"faith-based" program would be inundated by environmental activists who
will start "finding religion" in order to qualify for the faith-based
grants. "I think it's obscene that Green Groups will simply add a
Judeo-Christian face in order to provide themselves a deeper pocket," he
told CNS News.

****** ACTION ITEMS: ******

VOTE NO - on the "faith based" enviro scam!!!!!!!

TELL your two Senators:

ONE) S.476, Sections 106 and 107 - Multi-BILLION dollar land trusts do not
need special TAX FAVORITISM over private schools and churches!!!

TWO) Environmental and animal rights groups should not be permitted to
qualify as faith based organizations and apply for tax funds!!!

***PLEASE*** WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW:

-----1. Call both your Senators. You may call any Senator at the Capitol
Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. YOU CAN USE TWO TEMPORARY TOLL FREE
NUMBERS. THEY ARE: (800) 648-3516 or (877) 762-8762. When the
switchboard answers, ask for your Senators office. Then ask for the staff
person who covers S.476, the Faith Based Initiative tax bill.

-----2. Send a fax objecting to this special secret deal to both your
Senators. If you do not have their fax number, call the toll free number
above to get it from your Senator.

-----3. Send a letter to them at the following addresses:

Honorable _________ US Senate, Washington, DC 20510.

-----4. Tell your local newspaper about this special interest secret
attack on private property.

-----5. Call your local radio station or talk show. You must make as much
controversy as possible quickly.

-----6. Call at least three (3) friends to get them to call.

Land Rights Network
American Land Rights Association
PO Box 400 ­ Battle Ground, WA. 98604
Phone: 360-687-3087 ­ Fax: 360-687-2973 ­ E-mail: alra@landrights.org
Web Address: http://www.landrights.org
Legislative Office: 507 Seward Square SE- Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-210-2357 ­ Fax: 202-543-7126 ­ E-mail: landrightsnet@aol.com