4/01/2003

From: alra@governance.net
Subject: SENATE  VOTE!  "Faith Based" Enviro Scam!

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




SENATE  VOTE!  "Faith Based" Enviro Scam!



Senate Vote Expected  THIS  WEEK!


PLEASE - YOU  MUST  ACT  NOW!  SEE  ACTION  ITEMS  BELOW!!!

"Faith Based Initiative" hijacked by Enviros!!!

Tax Favoritism, Federal Grant Money proposed for Enviros!!!

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

TWO)  Enviros made eligible for  EVEN  MORE  grant money!

At  ANY  TIME  in the next  TWO  DAYS, the United States Senate may vote on S. 476, called the "Faith Based Initiative."  It was originally designed to offer funds to social service agencies.

HOWEVER - the multi-million dollar environmental groups have stuck their snout in the taxpayer financed trough by qualifying their schemes as RELIGIOUS  activities and made themselves eligible for this "Faith Based Initiative" funding!!

ALSO -  the multi-BILLION  dollar Land Trusts have snuck into the bill special  TAX  FAVORITISM  for themselves.  It will give them a special tax break when buying land.  It places multi-billion monsters like the Nature Conservancy at a competitive advantage over private schools, churches and charities.

YOUR  HELP  IS  NEEDED!!!!  SEE  ACTION  ITEM  BELOW!

Here is a description of the situation.  The powerful, wealthy multibillion dollar land trusts are working night and day to gain this  TAX  FAVORITISM  for themselves.  This is their  TOP  PRIORITY  legislation this year.  For example, The Nature Conservancy has nearly  THREE  BILLION  dollars in assets, and annual revenues of over seven hundred million dollars!

BUT  they demand more.  And if it means pushing aside churches and private schools then so be it - after all, how many churches and schools do you know with three  BILLION  dollars in assets?

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.


SEE  BELOW  -  ACTION  ITEM

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

TELL  your Senator  IMMEDIATELY:

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!!!

ALL  OUT  ALERT!!!!!   PLEASE  DO  THIS!!!  The vote is  THIS  WEEK!
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW!!!

-----1.   Call both your Senators and your Congressman.     You may call any Senator or Representative 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, tax issues or natural resource issues . . . or each of them.

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

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

Honorable _________  US Senate, Washington, DC 20510.
Honorable _________  US House of Representatives, Washington, DC 10515

----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.




PLEASE  FORWARD  AS  WIDELY  AS  POSSIBLE.





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