In Letter to Speaker, Blunt Urges Bipartisan Effort to Protect Charities
Congressional Desk
March 02, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt today sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) requesting that she join him in protecting charities and the work they do from a damaging provision in President Barack Obama´s budget.
"Under President Obama´s proposal, millions of American taxpayers would be able to deduct only a portion of their charitable contributions," Blunt wrote in his letter. "Families with household income taxes that are already scheduled to increase under Obama's plan would now also have their charitable giving deductions limited to 28 percent of the charitable contribution amounts. This is a tax increase and it's being levied at a time when contributions are sorely needed but at an all time low."
Blunt is a champion of the Charitable Giving Act that reformed policies on charitable donations, which would be impacted by Obama´s budget. The act has led to an increase in the work charities have been able to accomplish by allowing individuals to make tax-free contributions, up to $100,000 per year, to charities from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and provides tax deductions for businesses that donate food and other products. Blunt also authored and secured passage of a major rewrite of the laws governing charitable giving by Americans to encourage transparency.
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Madam Speaker:
I strongly urge you to help ensure that President Obama´s budget proposal to increase taxes on millions of Americans who generously donate their time and money to charitable organizations does not become law.
Under President Obama´s proposal, millions of American taxpayers would be able to deduct only a portion of their charitable contributions. Families with household income taxes that are already scheduled to increase under Obama's plan would now also have their charitable giving deductions limited to 28 percent of the charitable contribution amounts. This is a tax increase and it's being levied at a time when contributions are sorely needed but at an all time low.
I am puzzled why this President – who has frequently called upon Americans to take responsibility for building their communities and institutions – would hinder many Americans from continuing to contribute voluntarily to our nation´s charitable organizations. These civic, educational, and faith-based organizations and groups are the backbone of our communities and can move quickly in times of crisis to react to the needs of the local, regional, and national communities they serve. We should be encouraging, not penalizing, the country´s good Samaritans during a time when millions of Americans are relying on their work more than ever.
I hope you will join me in a bipartisan effort to support our nation's charities and the valuable work they do every day. Congress should oppose the White House's plan to undermine charitable organizations by increasing the tax burden on generous Americans.
Sincere regards,
Roy Blunt
"Under President Obama´s proposal, millions of American taxpayers would be able to deduct only a portion of their charitable contributions," Blunt wrote in his letter. "Families with household income taxes that are already scheduled to increase under Obama's plan would now also have their charitable giving deductions limited to 28 percent of the charitable contribution amounts. This is a tax increase and it's being levied at a time when contributions are sorely needed but at an all time low."
Blunt is a champion of the Charitable Giving Act that reformed policies on charitable donations, which would be impacted by Obama´s budget. The act has led to an increase in the work charities have been able to accomplish by allowing individuals to make tax-free contributions, up to $100,000 per year, to charities from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and provides tax deductions for businesses that donate food and other products. Blunt also authored and secured passage of a major rewrite of the laws governing charitable giving by Americans to encourage transparency.
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Madam Speaker:
I strongly urge you to help ensure that President Obama´s budget proposal to increase taxes on millions of Americans who generously donate their time and money to charitable organizations does not become law.
Under President Obama´s proposal, millions of American taxpayers would be able to deduct only a portion of their charitable contributions. Families with household income taxes that are already scheduled to increase under Obama's plan would now also have their charitable giving deductions limited to 28 percent of the charitable contribution amounts. This is a tax increase and it's being levied at a time when contributions are sorely needed but at an all time low.
I am puzzled why this President – who has frequently called upon Americans to take responsibility for building their communities and institutions – would hinder many Americans from continuing to contribute voluntarily to our nation´s charitable organizations. These civic, educational, and faith-based organizations and groups are the backbone of our communities and can move quickly in times of crisis to react to the needs of the local, regional, and national communities they serve. We should be encouraging, not penalizing, the country´s good Samaritans during a time when millions of Americans are relying on their work more than ever.
I hope you will join me in a bipartisan effort to support our nation's charities and the valuable work they do every day. Congress should oppose the White House's plan to undermine charitable organizations by increasing the tax burden on generous Americans.
Sincere regards,
Roy Blunt
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