Would your political/economic ideology be consistent if you wanted the government to stay out of your pocket but not your bed? Kris Wampler of the Charlotte Libertarian Examiner delves into this conundrum, asking the provocative question: Can Christians Be Libertarians?
The battle between liberals and conservatives only obscures the matter while hampering liberty. The left and [...]

Here’s the latest DC leader with tax troubles. The LA Times quotes a Bloomberg investigation into California Congressman Pete Stark – a senior House Democrat who helps write the nation’s tax laws. The State of Maryland is now launching an investigation into Stark who:
has been claiming a $1.7 million Maryland home as his principal residence in recent years, [...]

Tallahassee legislators are considering repealing the sales tax exemption on religious items as they grapple with an expected $5-6 billion state budget deficit for the 2009-2010 budget year. The House Finance and Tax Council heard testimony this week. Urging the tax exemption stand for the sale of religious items, including Bibles, Florida Baptist Convention legislative consultant Bill Bunkley says [...]

The Dallas Morning News’ Religion Blog convened a “Texas Panel” to ruminate over faith and the famous CNBC Rick Santelli monologue. Deal Hudson, director of InsideCatholic.com made this observation:
There is no obligation whatsoever for the government to “bail out” banks, investment firms, or individual homeowners who can’t pay their mortgages. The reason the government has started [...]

As if the sheer loss of their donor’s wealth weren’t enough concern for non-profit groups, here’s a good explanation of why 501(c)(3)’s, including religious charities, are worried about new limitations on charitable donation tax deductions.
Sheldon Steinbach, a DC-lawyer who represents colleges and universities says the proposal could have drastic consequences for many groups:
“Any disincentive to [...]

Here’s the latest twist on administration officials/nominees with tax problems.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who was forced to fork up $34,000 in unpaid back taxes, told the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday that the Obama administration will be going after people who avoid and evade taxes. In prepared remarks before Congress, he said the president [...]

In his Washington Post/On Faith column, “Our Brothers’ Keepers, Not their Guarantors,” Rabbi Brad Hirschfield cites the Cain and Abel story to support bailing out even those who behaved irresponsibly, offering a different take than this famous TV clip arguing the government’s subsidy of “losers’ mortgages” promotes bad behavior.
When God asks him where his brother is, Cain [...]

Now a fourth Obama administration nominee with tax troubles.
This time, it’s Ron Kirk, the president’s choice to be U.S. trade representative. Kirk owes an estimated $10,000 in back taxes from earlier in the decade and has agreed to pay them, the Senate Finance Committee said Monday.
Remember this good lesson for public officials from Abraham in Genesis: even [...]

Pharaoh’s famine policy — besides teaching us about nationalization of assets and urbanization  — constitutes an ancient precedent that to this day hasn’t changed much: a government is never quick to reduce the tax burden even when the crisis ends.
Pharaoh’s famine tax remained in effect, even after the seven years of famine were over. Joseph — the [...]

For those of us who thought government intervention in the private sector was something new, Genesis 47 provides proof the practice is as old as, well, the Bible. It’s also a lesson in the possible perils: why the policy must be undertaken tenderly, and only at the most critical juncture.  
After he and his brothers make up, [...]