Posted on 10/09/2014 7:23:32 AM PDT by GIdget2004
A controversial plan to award $18 million in state tax incentives to a religious-themed amusement park in Grant County that plans to feature a life-size Noah's Ark could be in jeopardy because of potential hiring discrimination.
In a series of letters with Ark Encounter LLC, Kentucky's top tourism official said the preliminary tax credits are stalled because of language in the park's job application that requires "salvation testimony" and a "Creation belief statement."
In July, the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority gave preliminary approval to the incentive package, which allows a 25 percent sales tax rebate on state tourism sites.
In an Aug. 27 letter, Tourism Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Bob Stewart pointed out a problematic job posting, which advertised for a computer-assisted design technician to work on the ark. The application was posted on the website of Answers in Genesis, the parent company of Ark Encounter, which also operates the Creation Museum in Petersburg.
The Herald-Leader obtained the letters through the state Open Records Act.
The state was notified of the posting by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.
Stewart wrote that such a job posting would be against state and federal hiring laws.
"Therefore we are not prepared to move forward with consideration of the application for final approval without the assurance of Ark Encounter LLC that it will not discriminate in any way on the basis of religion in hiring for the project and will revise its postings accordingly," Stewart wrote.
In an Aug. 28 response, Ark Encounter attorney James Parsons said the posting was for Answers in Genesis, not Ark Encounter, and that the park officials would honor the requirements for state tax incentives.
(Excerpt) Read more at kentucky.com ...
What other job qualifications does the left object to? Are they now prepared to say that any qualifications amount to discrimination?
It’s anything but a Left State. This is KY.
This article should serve as adequate notice and proof that government enticements with tax rewards and penalties is always a bad idea.
Isn’t KY the state of McConnell?
They were advertising for a computer assisted design technician. Where do "salvation testimony" and a "Creation belief statement" factor into those qualifications?
Though it would be kind of funny if all their applications came from guys named Mahesh or Deepak.
But then, I don't see why government is providing any financial incentives for this project in the first place.
Is it really out-of-line for a Christian organization, espousing Christian values and wanting to create a Christian work atmosphere to want Christian employees?
The Creation Museum in Kentucky brings in visitors from all over the United States. These people stay in hotels, eat in restaurants and go to other area attractions which bring in tax revenue to the state. Ark Encounter will do the same thing.
That is why the state offered them tax incentives.
They’re a Christian organization. Hiring a believer would just be common sense and right of association is a Constitutional right. Should they be forced to hire agnostics and atheists?
Oh, I get all that. But I still don't see why tax dollars (directly or indirectly) need to be involved.
Same thing with professional sports stadiums. They bring in visitors, etc but I don't see why tax money needs to be involved.
It's certainly has nothing to do with capitalism.
This is not a church. This is a corporation wanting state tax breaks to help finance their operation. If they want the money then follow the law.
If they want the state to subsidize them through tax breaks then they need to be prepared to follow the law. And if that means that some atheist or agnostic is dumb enough to want to work for them then they can't turn him down simply because he doesn't adhere to their particular beliefs.
But getting tax incentives is not a constitutional right (maybe by the time Chelsea Clinton becomes president).
No one is "forcing" them to do anything.
Again, with the shekels come the shackles.
I think the law is wrong. There is no separation of church and state. There never was.
Absolutely. And it's against everything the Founders believed.
I don't have a problem with the law. If agnostics and atheists are good enough to subsidize the Ark Museum through their tax dollars then they're good enough to work there. If the Ark Museum, or any other organization, wants to be selective in their hiring then do it without public financial support.
We’ll just have to disagree.
It is a 501c3 non-profit religious organization.
You’re OK then with government telling them (or anyone else) who they can and cannot hire?
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