Slightly off center

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be placed on the ballot: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ARTICLE I, SECTION 3 RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.-Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to provide that no individual or entity may be discriminated against or barred from receiving funding on the basis of religious identity or belief and to delete the prohibition against using revenues from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.

FL House Joint Resolution 1471

The house wrote it, and in November Florida voters will decide. My first reaction to this was to read it twice. Yes, it says just what I thought. If passed, Florida state money will be allowed to go to churches and sects. Of course there is no state income tax in Florida. We prefer to call them fees. Then of course like every place, we have property tax and sales tax. But regardless of what they teach in public schools today, the treasury receives its money from the citizens of the state.

So how will you feel knowing that a portion of the sales tax on your next Mercedes could fund a group that plays with snakes or speaks in tongues? The next time you buy a bag of chips, a portion could go to a group that believes Jesus was a really important prophet, but not necessarily all you were taught he was. Do you see where this could get a little bit controversial?

Churches are tax exempt. In exchange they stay out of politics for the most part. Religion is a personal choice, taxes are not. The voters of the state should defeat this ballot proposal.