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Bill: Religious Taxation Policy of 3133
Details
Submitted by[?]: Hutorian Conservative Party
Status[?]: defeated
Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: June 3135
Description[?]:
| Bill to abolish taxation on recognised religions. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change
Taxation of religious institutions.
Old value:: All religious income, despite the use, is taxed.
Current: Religions are treated as companies, and all profit is taxed, however, charitable donations are not taxed.
Proposed: Recognized religions are not taxed.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 00:03:24, June 10, 2011 CET | From | Hutorian Conservative Party | To | Debating the Religious Taxation Policy of 3133 |
| Message | Rt Hon Viscount Townsend MP, Leader of the Opposition, Mr Speaker, firstly i must state to the House that the definition of a "recognised religion" in Hutori is a religion that has more than 1% of the population declared as a follwer of the practices and ideals of such a movement. The most recent population survey is here - http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill.php?billid=320642. According to this survey there are four "recognised religions" - Lutheran, Catholic, Non-Lutheran Protestant and Jewish. Mr Speaker, it is uneasonable to treat such bodies as corporations. Churches do not pay a large amount of wages they do not invest in businesses, they only look after their own interests by spending money on upkeep of buildings, advertsiement etc. They also perform a lot of charitable acts such as looking after the homeless, poor etc and taxing them restricts the amount of money available to them to perform such vital tasks. I believe that we should free them from this tax and allow them to carry out these charitable acts to their maximum. Mr Speaker, i am asking this government to lift the burden on religions. It may even lead to more recognised religions when small religions may begin to expand whenever they have more money and then gain the 1% state membership required. Mr Speaker, the government needs to realise religions are simply not institutions to tax to raise money - corporations are meant to serve that purpose! - but religions are different and should have a different law applied to them and a law that is appropriate for the religious institution. |
| Date | 10:10:05, June 10, 2011 CET | From |  Liberal Democrats | To | Debating the Religious Taxation Policy of 3133 |
| Message | Rt Hon George Norton MP, Prime Minister Mr Speaker, I have said this before, and I will do so again, how can you say that one set of beliefs is more valid than another? Mr Speaker, an overwhelming majority of people are not even religious, so can he explain why religions should get a tax break at the expense of everyone else? I've seen those targets outside churches, they are usually for things like repairing the church roof or installing central heating. Mr Speaker, can the church congregation not just get on with their own business and leave everyone else to theirs? |
| Date | 14:18:27, June 10, 2011 CET | From | Hutorian Conservative Party | To | Debating the Religious Taxation Policy of 3133 |
| Message | Rt Hon Viscount Townsend MP, Leader of the Opposition, Mr Speaker, we are not saying that one set is more valid. What we are saying is that these religious institutions play a crucial role in Hutorian society. Their continual suppression by an overbearing state is what is minimising their membership! There are tonnes of loose laws on scientific institutions, so why are we punishing the other side of the arguement? Is the PM declaring that religion is wrong and as such it must be put down? Mr Speaker, the Churches perform vital roles within this state. The state is simply taxing to raise money. The state should not have to rely on churches for revenue. The state should be encouraging the expansion of businesses to raise revenue! This is the problem with the Lib Dems. Instead of looking at raising money through business in the long term - they opt for the quick fix by taxing religions! The whole situation is a nonsense. We appeal to the Chancellor to use his wisdom and realise that the taxation of religions is not in the states best interests. We should be encouraging business growth not simple taxation. Hopefully the Chancellor should realise this and vote accordingly. |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||
| yes | Total Seats: 190 | ||
| no |
Total Seats: 201 | ||
| abstain | Total Seats: 0 |
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