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WRONG INCENTIVE?

EX-WH Spokesman: I'm Limiting Charitable Giving Due To Smaller Tax Breaks

Critics say charitable gifts shouldn't be about reducing tax bills

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by David Mark

Editor-in-Chief t

Image: AP.

Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer says he may give less to charitable since the tax breaks won't be as good.

Legislation passed by the Senate to avoid the fiscal cliff would place limits on how much wealthy people could claim in deductions for charitable contributions and other spending when they itemize their tax returns. Fleischer, press secretary in first two-and-a-half years the George W. Bush administration, doesn't like that at all.

"I increased donations to charity in 2012. This deal limits my deductions so I, & many others, will likely donate less in 2013," tweeted Fleischer (@AriFleischer).

Many on Twitter pounced on Fleischer's comments, suggesting it's not exactly in the spirit of giving. "@AriFleischer lol talk about being a complete jerk, admitting you donate for the tax deduction #NoSoul," wrote Astrid Silva (@Astrid_NV).

And Susan L Brannigan (@susanlbrannigan), who works in operations at a non-profit group in Washington, D.C., wrote: "@AriFleischer Do you really donate to charity to get deductions? That could be what's wrong with America today...."

But there's something to Fleischer's take, reports the The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The Charitable Giving Coalition recent sent a letter, signed by nearly a 30 of the nation's largest nonprofit organizations, raising concern over the limits. Fewer charitable deductions would "result in fewer contributions flowing to America's charities which are now being asked to provide even more services to the most vulnerable among us."

Politix reporting and via The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

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Would fewer tax breaks for charitable gifts mean you give less?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • mudzangandoro
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    True charity does not depend on tax breaks, it depends on the heart no matter what circumstances. If this man really wants to give, then he shouldn't make it political!!! Makes him look bad.
  • u
    seedtick
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    No, it's not. Everyone will always give what they think they can afford to give. Then, if there is a tax break, they will be able to give more. This means that charities will get less under the new tax rules.
  • PNWest
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    @seedtick Or maybe as the economy gets better people will have more money to give. Tell the truth - How often have you thought about the tax consequences when donating to charity? Is it about the charity or the tax deduction?
  • View all 13 replies >
  • Neo_NtheMatrix
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    Liberals never think about the consequences of robbing the wealthy blind. Now the wealthy will have nothing left to give to the poor and vulnerable that the liberals claim they champion. I'm not going to comment on this story because I know all the liberal talking points that will be used. I'm just going to sit back and watch liberals try to defend this absurdity.
  • hwyangel
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    @woodtick57

    As a Christian this won't effect me since I Max out my income tax return every year. As with most Christians that believe in following Jesus example. But if you remember it is those who are are of the secular persuasion that hold the most wealth.
  • o
    woodtick57
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    @hwyangel

    If you are talking about giving to your church, most of that is not charity...very little of it most likely. You are just giving to a service you use; your gov't subsidized faith....your welcome...
  • frigginhell
    !
    You've already commented on this story. Had you considered by bolstering the economy and leveling the playing field to allow for more economic mobility that charitable contributions won't need to remain as high as less people will rely upon it? Is charity not another form of entitlement to those who are to lazy to work and on welfare anyway and looking for another hand out? So a hand out is good for a man if it gives you a tax break? Most of these charities are ran by trophy wives for causes their husbands champion anyway. I agree that this is probably not the best idea. I don't agree that this villifies democrats or liberals. It's a conservative that's being quoted saying he'll give less because his real motive was to lower his taxable income anyway. I have a solution. Tax churches instead. I fail to see why churches should receive preferential treatment anyway. The vast majority of their income derives from donations. They produce nothing. The give nothing. Don't give me some wishy washy crap about eternal salvation. That's not something the church can give you. Even a passing understanding of the bible and you realize that's something you earn yourself. Not something giving billy graham your social security is gonna pay for.
  • o
    Sonny
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    @woodtick57 They do often make that claim, Woodtick. That's why with republicans it has always been more important to "ignore what they say---and, instead, simply watch what they do".....
  • View all 17 replies >
  • u
    questioner
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    Right! Why give it there is nothing in it for me. This is the policy the tax code promotes. It giving in these circumstances really Charity?
  • Bobolinsky
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    @questioner-- That depends on the definition of a key word in your question. Do you consider "charity" to be altruistic by definition?
  • u
    questioner
    !
    Good thought, I've never thought of it as a economic quid pro quo even via a third party ... as defined it is ambigious:
    1. Provision of help or relief to the poor; almsgiving.
    2. Something given to help the needy; alms.
    3. An institution, organization, or fund established to help the needy.
    4. Benevolence or generosity toward others or toward humanity.
    5. Indulgence or forbearance in judging others. See Synonyms at mercy.
    6. often Charity Christianity The theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one's neighbors as objects of God's love.
  • View all 29 replies >
  • jessejaymes
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    I've never gave a dime to any charity with a tax break in mind. I give to few charities because most burn up around 75 cents of every dollar in "administrative costs". But what I do give (no kill dog shelters/abused kids) I make the commitment to give because I think those I give to are doing worthwhile work with most the money going to the actual cause. That commitment goes for the rest of my life. In good times and bad. For better or worse. It is what it is. My causes. If your cause is based on a tax deduction then it's no cause at all. It's a dodge.
  • jessejaymes
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    What would be interesting to me is what Ari actually does donate to. Are they real charities or giving to a scam like some Political Committe?
  • o
    Sabio
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    When every dime you make now either goes to taxes or eating, you really have no choice. You can't give what you don't have, liberals don't grasp that though. Their motto is if you don't have it to give, you take from those who do.
  • jessejaymes
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    That's quite a list isn't it? You'd think someone who is committed to charity for others could find it in their hearts to work for 100K a year wouldn't you? I mean, they get expense accounts, hotels, travel, blah blah blah. 100K sounds reasonable to me.
  • NormalFlora
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    Speaking of charity, the Donald had a big unused hotel/casino in Atlantic City that COULD have provided temporary shelter to the Superstorm Sandy victims whose houses were destroyed. But instead, that selfish putz closed and barred the doors.
  • Thegrif
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    It will mean those with real money will give less, Period.
    Of course it does!
    They are not goin to make less or take home less, so to cover tax increase, charities will lose out.
  • mimi57
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    It's his money, if he wants to cut what he gives to charity, that's his business. With people having to live on less and the cost of living soaring , I think a lot of people will be giving less. I donate to Wounded Warriors, our local
    animal welfare league, and donate blood to the Red Cross...which BTW...I give, and they sell for almost a thousand dollars a pint, and the CEO makes almost 600,000 a year... The Biden's gave a whopping 950.00
    last year, WOW. Peons that we are, I'm real sure we gave more than that!
  • Souljah
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    Just goes to show MOST of these types dont really give charitably, they ONLY give for a the Tax deduction.. Go Figure
  • RedFloppyShoes
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    Sadly it is exactly what this administration wants. Less charitable giving from others, so the government becomes more benevolent than the individual.
  • ConserveUSA
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    Do not stop giving to Charities no matter what. The purpose of Charity is to help a person in need not tax breaks. As a devout Roman Catholic: Faith, Hope & Charity are virtues I live by.
  • u
    RobertJHarsh
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    I'm curious....are you aware that there is no provision in the bible for priests to not allowed to get married and the church did that so there'd be no heirs for a priest who died, wealthy? When in fact, most priests several hundred years ago were wealthy since most of the "success class" at that time were those who could read and write?
  • ConserveUSA
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    @RobertJHarsh I heard of it too. The Church is not perfect. Anyway, I give mainly to charities like Salvation Army, Good Will, Food Banks, & Special Olympics.
  • View all 6 replies >
  • u
    RobertJHarsh
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    Other than dropping old clothes into a Planet Aid container, getting rid of stuff at Goodwill or donating food to the animal shelter, I do not give any money to charities. Most are money laundering operators not worthy of my time. United Way and Komen are the worst in my neck of the woods but that is not saying all are bad. I am sure there are good ones but I am unaware of any.
  • jessejaymes
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    I give to two local groups. The second they go nationwide they become nothing but money grubbing machines. You might as well mail your check to the Pope.
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