Ark Encounter, Kentucky Creationist Theme Park, Gets Generous Tax Breaks In Budget Proposal First Posted: 1/21/12 04:12 PM ET Updated: 1/21/12 04:20 PM ET
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) has proposed a 2012-2013 budget that includes heavy cuts to some key departments while giving a $43 million tax break to a massive creationist theme park.
In his plan, Beshear calls for a 6.4 percent cut to Kentucky's higher education department, a 2.2 percent cut to the State Police force and sizable cuts to other agencies in what he calls an effort to cut the budget to the bone.
The proposal is one of the most austere state budgets in recent history, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader, and Beshear was quick to admit it is "inadequate for the needs of our people."
"We should be making substantial investments in our physical and intellectual infrastructure to bring transformational change to our state," Beshear said while unveiling his plan earlier this week. "This budget does not allow us to do enough of that."
At the same time, however, Beshear has proposed going through with a $43 million tax break to Ark Adventure, an 800-acre amusement part that is expected to include a three-stories high, two-football-fields long replica of Noah's Ark. On top of the tax break, Think Progress reports that the governor's budget includes $11 million to improve a highway interchange near the park........................>>>>...................>>>>.....................http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/21/ark-encounter-kentucky-budget-tax-breaks_n_1220806.html
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"... Unless your in a Conservative Right Wing Conservative District... then a Christian religion is OK.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"... Unless your in a Conservative Right Wing Conservative District... then a Christian religion is OK.
COULDN'T AGREE MORE.......WTH IS WRONG WITH THIS GUY? oh wait, he failed to keep evolving....his offspring may swim upstream someday....
separate separate separate......
they should be getting the $$ from Joel Olsteen.....JMHO
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"... Unless your in a Conservative Right Wing Conservative District... then a Christian religion is OK.
There is a federal monument of REVEREND Martin Luther King in DC. Haven't heard a peep out of the seperation church and state crowd. Maybe the Billy Graham monument will be unveiled next year.
There is a federal monument of REVEREND Martin Luther King in DC. Haven't heard a peep out of the seperation church and state crowd. Maybe the Billy Graham monument will be unveiled next year.
no one goes to MLK for church.....or Jefferson, or Washington, or Adams etc etc.....or Lincoln......
but a THEME PARK????? OMG....REALLY.....they can have fundraisers.....same with the theory of evolution and the big bang theory......the $$ should be equally split.....or how about the hindu theory of reincarnation?....theory of creationism?.....the list is endless......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Personally, I have no problem with it -- it is NOT establishing an official religion -- it is aiding in constructing a theme park (and I am sure that public dollars have been used to build or assist in the building of "temples of paganism" like casinos and movie-themed parks and other such facilities. Having visited Kentucky on my cross country trip last summer, I am certain that a "creation-themed" theme park will draw loads of tourists and generate millions in tourists dollars which will create job, help local businesses and even generate some much needed tax revenue.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
There is a federal monument of REVEREND Martin Luther King in DC. Haven't heard a peep out of the seperation church and state crowd. Maybe the Billy Graham monument will be unveiled next year.
Maybe Cic thinks that Martin Luther King Jr should be excluded from being honored for his civil rights achievements, to the point where he was murdered by the opponents of equality in our country... simply because he was also a religious leader.
MLK's civil rights accomplishments were separate from his religious successes... and the reason he is honored around the world as well as in the USA.
(One more example where Cicero gets it wrong!)
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"... Unless your in a Conservative Right Wing Conservative District... then a Christian religion is OK.
Hey, genius, you're right on with the statement... the only problem is that you think it means everyone needs to be an athiest. The fact is that this is the STATE OF KENTUCKY making the proposal, not the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. You know, just like New York State and the State of Massachusetts deciding that marriage should be between any two people (by the way, that would be a NON-CHRISTIAN thing, but I didn't hear people like you standing up stating that it was just wrong).
Hey, genius, you're right on with the statement... the only problem is that you think it means everyone needs to be an athiest. The fact is that this is the STATE OF KENTUCKY making the proposal, not the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. You know, just like New York State and the State of Massachusetts deciding that marriage should be between any two people (by the way, that would be a NON-CHRISTIAN thing, but I didn't hear people like you standing up stating that it was just wrong).
Genius??? Your federal right to freedom of (or from) religions supersedes any state regulation that some Bible Belt Religious Wacko decides to propose.
New York State and the State of Massachusetts deciding that marriage should be between any two people has nothing to do with any one's right of religion. Marriage is not a religious right granted by the Church, but a civil right granted from the US Constitution. Many states had laws outlawing marriage IN THE CHURCH, between mixed races. A Church can make up any silly regulation they see fit for their Religion, but the First Amendment to the US Constitution declares that US Citizens are not held to any Church laws.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Genius??? Your federal right to freedom of (or from) religions supersedes any state regulation that some Bible Belt Religious Wacko decides to propose.
No, it says that the Federal government will not establish a religion, and henceforth, by the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, this is left to the individual states, if they wish to.
No, it says that the Federal government will not establish a religion, and henceforth, by the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, this is left to the individual states, if they wish to.
NOPE! That may be your OPINION, but it isn't what the Constitution that has been upheld by the Supreme Court has determined that it means.
''The 'establishment of religion' clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the Federal Government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance.
No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect 'a wall of separation between church and State.'''
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
I hate all these tax break handouts, look at AMD in Saratoga, it's really big business robbing our government to get benefits small businesses can't get. Box, the argument the government can make is that this will increase tourism and that is why it's being done, taking religion out of the equation. I don't agree with it personally but if it goes to a higher court the state will probably win, imho.
I'm glad to hear box has no problem with an activist using Jesus and Christianity to advance a civil rights agenda. He will have no problem when civil rights are given back to the unborn through Christian advocacy. Im glad to see box opening up to government recognition of Christian advocacy. Dr. Kings speeches were laced with reference to Jesus and God.
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