Nebraska State Senator To Churches: Start Paying Taxes!

About the last thing most people would expect to find in Nebraska is an atheist in the legislature (let alone an outspoken and popular one). Most people, meet Ernie Chambers: state senator, proud atheist, activist, and Democrat – who uses the New Testament to argue that religious organizations should not be exempt from state property taxes.

Nebraska state Sen. Ernie Chambers’ new bill aimed at eliminating state property tax exemptions for religious organizations is set for review by the Legislature’s Revenue Committee Friday.

Bill LB675, which was introduced by the openly atheist lawmaker on Jan. 8, attempts to “gain more revenue, rather than less, by taking away churches’ property tax exemptions,” according to Chambers’ Statement of Intent.

Although the measure will most likely be killed in committee, Chambers argued in the statement:

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.

The popular Nebraska senator also advised religious organizations to “carry out the directives of Jesus who said, ‘Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.’”

“In short: PAY YOUR TAXES,” Chambers wrote.

By passing this bill, legislators would, in effect, be fulfilling scripture, Chambers claimed.

By: dave-dr-gonzo

David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.

* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.