AR Capitol

Representative Jeremy Gillam, Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives is sponsoring a bill in the state legislature that would provide tax credits exclusively to Christians. Named the, “Respect For Religious Belief” bill,  if passed, it would provide an additional tax credit per individual for those who check the box on their state tax forms that they are practicing Christians.

Rep. Jim Dotson explained why a majority of Republicans in the legislature support this bill, “Many of the problems in our society, the increasing depravity, hatred, violence and division, come from what’s now too big of a separation between church and state. With this bill, we affirm that our religious beliefs are critical to encouraging us to be good people and treating each other as neighbors.”

Responding to charges by opponents that it would embed governmental prejudice against other religions in the state, Rep. Andy Davis protested that the bill did not favor one religion over another.

“The purpose of this bill is to encourage our citizens to study and reflect the positive qualities that are taught in The Bible so we can have a more peaceful, pleasant and harmonious society. Despite the claims of the bill’s detractors, it doesn’t favor one religion over another. No matter which religion you belong to, as long as you study and follow the teachings of the Bible, you can be Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, any religion at all, all Arkansans are eligible for this tax credit,” Davis stated.

Democrats and civil liberty groups have raised the issue of how such a law would be unconstitutional, violating the First Amendment but Gilliam batted away that charge. “The First Amendment says that government can’t make a law establishing a religion or interfering with the free exercise of it. Last I heard, Christianity was already established, and this bill doesn’t prevent anyone from practicing whatever religion they want to. This nation was founded on Christian principles and all we’re doing is rewarding people who respect and follow the principles of America’s founders. What could be more constitutional or patriotic than that?”

The Arkansas House of Representatives is currently considering a slew of amendments to the bill that may make it even more controversial. They include a reduction in criminal penalties on misdemeanor and felony convictions in cases where the defendant is Christian, discounted state and city services for Christians and allowing Christians to use the car pool lane on highways regardless of how many people are in their car.

“Hey, even if they’re driving without any other people in the car, they’re riding with Jesus so they deserve to be in the carpool lane,” Gillam added.

 

Happy April Fools Day from PlanetPOV!

 

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choicelady
Member

I seriously believed you!!! Thank goodness this isn’t accurate, but I agree with kes that you get inside their heads. There are laws- upheld by SCOTUS no less – in Arizona giving tax credits to conservative Christians for private schools, so you are NOT that far off the mark, AdLib. There is another, also AZ, that wants to make church attendance mandatory. Your spoof is therefore NOT that far from truth!

It’s right down there with “if English was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for America” Bachmann.

All I can think is: Jesus wept.

Thanks for a great laugh – even though it was totally scary getting there!

pinkpantheroz
Member

Ad, when I saw the title ‘Arkansas Bill’, I thought for a moment you were talking about the latest in the Clinton Saga!

kesmarn
Admin

😆 It’s a little eerie, AdLib, the way you can get inside their tiny little brains, discern their crazy thought patterns and then put them out there as satire. Then then you re-emerge into the daylight, brush off the cobwebs, and resume your normal rationality and good humor.

This must be the way Stephen King feels too.

And you both deal with the horror genre.

Except the TeaPublicans (I’ve also heard them referred to as “Y’allqaeda.”) are scarier than anything King ever came up with.

SueInCa
Member

Isn’t that the truth, Kes? I was on a thread today and one dude I know to be of Dominion Theology kept insisting it had nothing to do with the bill. When I posted a 7 Mountains blog, bragging about their plans and victories, he slithered away.

kesmarn
Admin

I’d have just a bit (a very little bit) more respect for them, Sue, if they’d just say aloud, publicly, what their goals are. But they’re so sneaky. So secretive. That’s the way people act when they’re not really very proud of what they’re doing, but want to have their way regardless.

“Slither” is the perfect word for what one of them would do once you turned the light on him.

choicelady
Member

Good for you! Nothing like smacking them with their own words!

Kalima
Admin

Hey, AdLib. Looks as if the Arkansas gov read your piece and changed his mind. Well done! 😆

My April Fool’s Day was yesterday, so I cheated and went to the end first. 😉

—-

Arkansas governor says he won’t sign religious liberty bill, asks lawmakers to change it

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/04/01/arkansas-governor-to-discuss-religious-liberty-bill/

SueInCa
Member

LOL Adlib you had me going there for a minute ha ha ha
Problem is, I can totally see this happening but not until everyone is comfortable with the “discriminate against LGBT” bill and it’s implementation lol.

That was a good one, I wish I had the knack for satire like you do.

Nirek
Member

Again Ad, you may be a profit.

Good April fools joke, but it could well happen.

SueInCa
Member

Which is why it seemed to be true to me, Nirek.

Haruko Haruhara
Member

April Fool’s, I hope!