Maryland County To Churches: Preach Environmentalism And Get A Tax Break

Daily Caller ^ | November 19, 2014 | Derek Hunter

[C19fan]

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley made national news last year when he fought to pass and signed a tax bill that levied a tax on Marylanders, businesses and churches for the amount of “impervious surface” they have on their property.

Roofs, driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots qualify for the “rainwater remediation fee” to “protect the Chesapeake Bay.”

Though the O’Malley administration calls it a “fee,” it is commonly called the “rain tax” throughout the state. It is wildly unpopular and the promise to fight to repeal the tax was a large factor in Maryland electing Republican Larry Hogan governor this month.

Now Prince George’s Country is offering a way for churches to avoid paying the tax, which is estimated to be an average of $744 per year for them — preach “green” to their parishioners.

[hal ogen]

maryland is THE Freak state. It bis truly hopeless there. Escape while you still can.

[duffee]

How is this different from “solicicting prostitution”?

[Blood of Tyrants]

There is NOTHING that liberals do not want to control.

[SMARTY]

Politics in the pulpit? That alone is illegal... or rather, churches will lose their tax exempt status.

Correct?

[Wallace T.]

The current political ideology in Massachusetts or Maryland has nothing to do with the respective religious beliefs of their 17th Century founders. Secular humanism is the ruling philosophy, not Christianity of any stripe.

[maryz]

That was my point! ;-)

[cyclotic]

I have a funny feeling my church won’t play along.

[zot]

Thanks for the ping. Churches are tax-exempt in Maryland, so the State legislature calls this a “fee” instead of a tax, but it is sent to the churches on a property tax form.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I guess these churches can have Al Gore acolytes as their clergy.

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[the OlLine Rebel]

How appropriate.

Maybe finally these commie whackos will admit Green IS a religion.

I am sick to death of the EnviroMental religion.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Actually it the county.

And not surprising, because it is both liberal and full of blacks. “Black churches” have been violating the non-political-campaigning principle for ages.

[Sensei Ern]

Preach environmentalism...save a few dollars.
Preach the truth...save souls.

Hmm...the choice is hard...NOT!

[GreyFriar]

Praise goddess gaia from whom all environments flow, praise oppressive, bill of rights violating governments from revolts below.

Preach green and ok, preach Christianity and be closed down.

[zot]

Preach green and ok, preach Christianity and be closed down.

Yup.

[zot]

Preach green and ok, preach Christianity and be closed down.

Yup.

[Olog-hai]

MD not respecting tax-exempt status for churches?

Never mind dictating what they ought to say?

Sounds way beyond liberalism. Perhaps national-socialism?

[lowbridge]

Bump