Atheist Nebraska senator proposes bill banning tax exemption for religious organizations
An atheist senator from Nebraska who once sued God to make a point about frivolous lawsuits has proposed a bill that would eliminate a state property tax exemption for religious organizations.
Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha wants to install a tax on church property because he indicated that is what Jesus would want.
“Religious people say they want to carry out the directives of Jesus who said, ‘Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,’ when he was asked whether taxes should be paid to Caesar,” Chambers wrote in bill LB675. “In short: ‘PAY YOUR TAXES.’ This bill simply carries out what Jesus wanted to see his followers do, and they certainly want to see the Scriptures fulfilled.”
He added:
“The purpose of LB 675 is to help the State gain more revenue, rather than less, by taking away churches’ property tax exemptions. The Governor and candidates for governor have said that ‘everything should be on the table.’ If taxes were paid on the many churches and cathedrals and temples in every city in this State, perhaps the State’s assistance to local governments and schools would be diminished considerably -- leaving more in State coffers for other purposes.”
If the bill doesn’t pass, Chambers said he might attach it as an amendment to other bills he opposes.
“All things considered, I expect my legislative colleagues to say, regarding this bill: ‘Let Thy will be done.' To which I can intone: 'Amen,’” he wrote.