Press release: Pierce County Republicans Reject New Public Taxes for Private Charities Posted by Pete Chamberlain

Posted 06/12/11 Last updated 06/12/11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Pierce County Republicans Reject New Public Taxes for Private Charities

Puyallup, WA, Saturday June 11th, 2011 - The Pierce County Republican Party on Saturday adopted a resolution, drafted by members of the Washington State Campaign for Liberty, opposing a new property tax measure recently proposed by the Pierce County Council. The tax measure would increase property taxes in order to raise funds for the United Way.

"The resolution in opposition of the new proposed tax received nearly unanimous support," said Pete Chamberlain, Washington State Campaign for Liberty's Region 6 Coordinator. "Sentiment among Pierce County Republicans clearly echoes the remarks of the vast majority of Pierce County residents who spoke on the issue."

The Council's tax measure, R2011-60, was introduced by Republicans Dick Muri and Stan Flemming, and Tim Farrell, a Democrat. Supported by the Pierce County United Way and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, the proposal would levy a property tax increase and direct the tax funds to the United Way.

Jon Higley, District Leader of the 27th District Republicans and recent candidate for the Washington State legislature, introduced the resolution opposing the new tax at a Republican central committee meeting. The purpose of the resolution was twofold: to alert Republican members of the Pierce County Council that their party specifically opposes the proposed tax measure and that they categorically oppose the use of property taxes to fund private charities.

According to Chamberlain, his conversations with council aides revealed a massive outcry of public opposition. "One councilmember's aide disclosed that their office had received many calls about the new tax measure and only one caller actually supported the proposed tax." Chamberlain said, "Apparently the tax increase proposal has been tabled in response to the outrage."

The Republican resolution characterized the tax proposal as "an abuse of the power to levy taxes on property." Among reasons to oppose it were concerns about it setting a "dangerous precedent" of funding charities with property taxes, as well as the belief that charitable giving should be voluntary as opposed to being enforced by law. The resolution also expressed concerns about public oversight of property tax dollars and how they might be spent by private organizations.

Chamberlain said he had not yet received an official statement from the Pierce County Democrats but, after communication with the county chairman, expected their members to have similar concerns about the tax proposal.

"No matter the disaster or crisis, Americans have repeatedly proven to be among the most generous people on earth. The idea that politicians are attempting to use the power of government to tax Pierce county residents - the penalty for those that cannot or will not pay being eviction from their homes - all to fund a private charity, is repugnant," said Chamberlain. "Elected officials at the national, state and especially the local level must do what's right, not what they think will buy votes."

Washington State Campaign for Liberty is a non-profit, non-partisan political organization, whose mission is to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, sound money, free markets, and a constitutional foreign policy, by means of educational and political activity.

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Contact:
Pete Chamberlain
Washington State Campaign for Liberty

C4L Resolution Proposed to Pierce County Republicans Posted by Pete Chamberlain

Posted 06/12/11

A Resolution Concerning the Use of Property Taxes to Fund Charities, and a Pierce County Council Proposal to Put Such a Measure Before the Voters

[Specifically, Pierce County Resolution R2011-60, a property tax increase proposal, the funds from which are to be used for social and behavioral programs for military personnel and their families, by diverting tax dollars through the United Way of Pierce County to then be used by an organization with an unclear origin and purpose called United for Military Families (UFMF).]

WHEREAS, the use of public money derived from property taxes to fund non-profit organizations is an abuse of the power to levy taxes on property; and

WHEREAS, the measure proposed by the Pierce County Council, R2011-60, would set a dangerous precedent for property taxes being used to fund private organizations, a rationale for raising taxes we could expect to see repeated in the future; and

WHEREAS, giving to charity is something people are supposed to engage in voluntarily, not by the force of government. This is important, among other reasons, to prevent people from being forced to financially support organizations they oppose; and

WHEREAS, the four remedial strategies listed in this resolution deal with problems that are already are being dealt with by items funded by Pierce County, Washington State or federal appropriations of public dollars; and

WHEREAS, since the specific problems proposed to be alleviated by directing property tax funds through United Way are problems also faced by thousands of our non-military citizens, controversy is exacerbated by such a proposal which allows only certain groups to be eligible to benefit from tax dollars taken from all - again a risky precedent; and

WHEREAS, while it is expected that government social programs be designed in such ways to prevent fraud, nepotism, etc., it is difficult to guarantee the public oversight necessary to prevent waste, mismanagement and misuse of public funds when it comes to private organizations.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Pierce County Republican Party opposes Pierce County Council Resolution R2011-60 and urges the Pierce County Council not to allow it to be placed on the ballot.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Pierce County Republican Party opposes similar future measures to use property taxes to fund non-profit organizations.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution of the Pierce County Republican Party be sent to each Republican on the Pierce County Council to ensure they have been informed of the wishes of the members of the Pierce County Republican Party Central Committee as pertains to the matter discussed above.