Cutting the Charitable Deductions is Part of...

Eliminating the charitable deductions for the very rich will more than likely kill organizations that benefit from these types of donations.

While it might sound good to eliminate a deduction that is used by wealthy individuals, the ramifications for organizations such as symphonies would be devastating.Â In tough financial times these organizations suffer because people give less and donÂ’t attend as many events as they used to.

ABC News reported that the Obama Budget will cut charitable deductions as well as the mortgage insurance deductions for higher income brackets.

Not only will the Obama cuts hurt symphonies, but the Republicans want to cut funding for NPR and PBS.Â Â Cutting funding to NPR delivers a double blow to symphonies.Â The only stations that provide an outlet for classical music is NPR.Â This will do harm to the existence of small radio stations and symphonies throughout the country.

Already many symphonies have tightened their belts in order to weather the financial difficulties of our times.Â Some have had to declare bankruptcy.Â Not only do the symphonies lose out, but their employees, the communities they serve, and the people who enjoy the services and revenues that these organizations provide.

It would be a sad day for the arts if these cuts and deductions are eliminated. Soon the stage could be empty.

Comments: 5

Paul M. Feb 14, 2011, 3:04pm UTC

In Detroit the stage is already empty since the orchestra went on strike. I don't think many people have really cared.

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Julia Bodeeb Feb 14, 2011, 3:19pm UTC

Sad news. He should have just cut tax cuts for rich and leave the programs that help charities and Pell grants for students alone

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Justin Bartels Feb 14, 2011, 4:58pm UTC

So heres our dillema in this country, its not cool to have government fund non profits (Republicans), so what we'll do is take away their funding options (Democrats).

Taking away incentives for private citizens to donate to non profits while increasing the size of government is exactly why our political parties have not a clue what they are doing. We should cut all programs across the board instead of this "My program is better than your program" attitude

Pat Bartels Feb 14, 2011, 5:03pm UTC

Amen to that Justin. That would solve a lot of our problems. We really need to go further than that. We also need to put a temporary freeze on any new spending for at least a year or two. We're getting to the point where we can no longer afford our government and it's debt.

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Ray rodda Feb 15, 2011, 9:57am UTC

The real issue with this is that Obama and his ilk want to control your very being. With the end of chairitable giving the govt. will step and in and will tell you exactly what they want done. Don't believe it, go back and look at the budget directors comments a year ago when this was also proposed. When asked, will this not destroy the abiltiy for non profits to function because people will stop giving? His response, Well we put more money in our budget to take care of this. Hello, they are trying to control you. Look at the diet issues coming from liberals in DC and NY.

I belong to a church that has a large university that does not accept money from the feds so that we can control our destiny. The feds came after us because we have some students who are on the GI Bill and because of that they wanted us to cowtow to their way of doing business. We went to court and the judge rulled against the Feds. They will come again.

FERV888

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Cutting the Charitable Deductions is Part of Obama’s Budget Proposal

Comments: 5

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