Washington, DC: Congressman Ron Paul yesterday introduced legislation which would amend President Bush’s faith-based charitable choice proposal. Paul, who met with the President earlier this week to discuss the faith-based initiative, proposes changes to the tax law that encourage charitable giving. Specifically, Paul’s legislation creates a tax credit (up to $5,000) available to individuals and businesses for donations to faith-based organizations which provide needed social services.

“I agree with the President that churches and private charities do a better job providing social services than government agencies,” Paul stated. “However, it’s dangerous to give public funds to private organizations, because such organizations might change their faith-based message to win government favor. Churches should not become entangled with government subsidies and programs, because truly independent religious institutions are critical to a free society.”

“The better approach is to provide tax incentives for individuals and businesses that make direct donations to charities and faith-based providers,” Paul continued. “This increases the budgets of such providers without using taxpayer funds, enabling them to expand their charitable missions without government involvement. The goal is to reduce the role of the federal welfare state by promoting charitable solutions to community problems. Charities do a far better job of helping the poor and returning individuals to productive lives than dependency-creating federal welfare programs.”

Paul’s legislation was introduced Wednesday as a substitute to HR 7, the Community Solutions Act of 2001.

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