Here's one for the sholars II

[kayak99]

What is the name of your state? PA

Private college, refused to sign federal Title IX compliance forms, gave up all Stafford loans and any other government involvements, located in a small town.

"Dry" town is revitalizing and many citizens want a liquor question on the May ballot to the point of obtaining enough signatures to have the question placed on the May primary ballot in hope of attracting some upscale restaurants.

College now plans to campaign against this issue on campus via its registered students and staff to try to keep this town dry. This college, in its sales pitch to parents, emphasize this is a "dry" church community.

Problem is there are three club bars in town with many beer distributors, a liquor stop and several bars in nearby townships. The students of this town are famous for frequenting township bars and renting social clubs for their alcohol related parties. Rather hypocritical.

Point is, how can a college that owns more tax free real estate than the entire town, use its "tax-free" facility to influence local politics. (P.S., this is not the first time as they are famous for throwing out politicians who do not agree with their antics)

Tax free churches are not permitted to politic from the pulpit so how is this campus?

Answers? Comments? Opinions?

 

[seniorjudge]

...

I closed the first topic due to the annoying JETX who edited his answers and also had this deleted. Does he control th s"free advise" forum?

....

Translation: I didn't like JETX's correct answers.

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?t=359555


By the way, what is a "sholars"?

 

[kayak99]

Translation: I didn't like JETX's correct answers.

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?t=359555


By the way, what is a "sholars"?

Sorry for the typo. I can spell, I just can't type.

JETX's answers were no answers.

What is the difference between a tax-free church being unable to influence politics and a tax-free college being able?

 

[Tritium]

Private College - Tax Free Property

What was the reason for granting property to a Private school (aka Private Business) tax free?

It almost sounds like the school is of a religious nature. Is that the case? When any Religious Group starts involving themselves in politics, they should lose their Tax Exemption status. This becomes a conflict of interest. (Not saying it's law, just saying how it should be.)

 

[racer72]

Who says churches can't be involved in local political issues? The issue of strip club licensing has been an issue in Seattle for years and the local churches have the the most vocal when it comes to banning such clubs. Ever hear of Fred Phelps? His is an ordained minister using his position as the leader of a church to spout his anti gay message. Some have even used their position as a religous leader to promote themselves as political candidates, ie, Jesse Jackson. The institiutions of the community have always been part of the local political landscape, churches and colleges included.

 

[seniorjudge]

...What is the difference between a tax-free church being unable to influence politics and a tax-free college being able?...

Tax-free entities have freedom of speech...just as you do.

 

[trieroffact]

Translation: I didn't like JETX's correct answers.

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?t=359555


By the way, what is a "sholars"?

Who would like a wrong answer from a 13 yo imbecile???

 

[kayak99]

That you for the responses. Intelligence is important in these types of forums.

I realized there may not have been a "pat" answer to my queries but I preferred a better answer than JETX's "simple" then his removing posts I challanged.


To continue, it has always been my understanding churches could lose their tax-free exemptions for politicing from the pulpit. Is this not the case?

seniorjudge, this seems way beyond freedom of speech.

To answer an earlier supposition, yes, the campus is a religious based educational facility. I feel there is something wrong with a facility like this being able to dictate policy to the community that does pay taxes (to the point of admonishing public employees when their positions are not in keeping with that of the campus).

It appears though I would have no legal standing in raising this issue though.

 

[Silverplum]

That you for the responses. Intelligence is important in these types of forums.

Yes, it sure is..."sholar."

 

[kayak99]

Yes, it sure is..."sholar."

As I wrote above sir plum, I can spell, I just can't type.

 

[trieroffact]

It may be that the IRS just has not gone after them yet....although the issue is generally invloving a candidate...


http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=130652,00.html


"If any of the activities (whether or not substantial) of your organization consist of participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, your organization will not qualify for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3). Such participation or intervention includes the publishing or distributing of statements."

 

[fairisfair]

It may be that the IRS just has not gone after them yet....although the issue is generally invloving a candidate...


http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=130652,00.html


"If any of the activities (whether or not substantial) of your organization consist of participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, your organization will not qualify for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3). Such participation or intervention includes the publishing or distributing of statements."

and the candidate in this particular example would be whom? Jack Daniels???

 

[CdwJava]

To continue, it has always been my understanding churches could lose their tax-free exemptions for politicing from the pulpit. Is this not the case?

No.

Churches regularly oppose propositions and candidates positions on certain issues. A church is not - or should not - be muzzled based solely upon their position on a topic ... abortion. homosexuality, stem cell research, and family issues are key issues for many church organizations today and they are free to oppose these issues from the pulpit as they wish.

However, there IS pending legislation in Congress that would stifle any such opposition by declaring that opposing certain positions - such as homosexuality - would become HATE speech, and pastors and others who speak against this lifestyle (or biological disposition, if you wish) could be subject to arrest. THIS is a slippery slope act against the First Amendment that, today, would punish Christians ... who might be subject to such radical new laws tomorrow?

Churches and other tax exempt organizations have every right to be political in certain ways. If religious thought it allowed to be criminalized, how long do you believe it will be before political action will be criminalized?

- Carl

 

[kayak99]

It may be that the IRS just has not gone after them yet....although the issue is generally invloving a candidate...


http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=130652,00.html


"If any of the activities (whether or not substantial) of your organization consist of participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office, your organization will not qualify for tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3). Such participation or intervention includes the publishing or distributing of statements."

Interesting. This college did intervene in a political campaign a few years ago insuring a local candidate (who had issues with them) was defeated for office. Question is, are these campuses under section 501(c)(3)?