Judge orders KY to give tax benefits to AIG, despite discriminatory hiring

[essentialsaltes]

The state of Kentucky must give millions of dollars in tax subsidies to a Noah’s Ark theme park owned by a creationist ministry, even though that ministry refuses to comply with the state’s request not to engage in hiring discrimination, according to an opinion by a George W. Bush appointee to the federal bench. Under Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove’s opinion, the creationist group Answers in Genesis (AiG) stands to gain up to $18 million.

 

[lasthero]

The state of Kentucky must give millions of dollars in tax subsidies to a Noah’s Ark theme park owned by a creationist ministry, even though that ministry refuses to comply with the state’s request not to engage in hiring discrimination, according to an opinion by a George W. Bush appointee to the federal bench. Under Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove’s opinion, the creationist group Answers in Genesis (AiG) stands to gain up to $18 million.

Well, that can't be right. The government is all part of conspiracy to hold down creationists and onlky does things to support evolutionism.

Because reasons.

 

[Goonie]

The state of Kentucky must give millions of dollars in tax subsidies to a Noah’s Ark theme park owned by a creationist ministry, even though that ministry refuses to comply with the state’s request not to engage in hiring discrimination, according to an opinion by a George W. Bush appointee to the federal bench. Under Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove’s opinion, the creationist group Answers in Genesis (AiG) stands to gain up to $18 million.

And more importantly what has this to do with creation/evolution?

 

[essentialsaltes]

And more importantly what has this to do with creation/evolution?

owned by a creationist ministry

Admittedly not much about the merits of the arguments for either side, but neither is a lot of what goes on in this folder.

 

[Goonie]

owned by a creationist ministry

Admittedly not much about the merits of the arguments for either side, but neither is a lot of what goes on in this folder.

Ah my bad. Responding without fully reading

 

[AV1611VET]

Kinda like taking our money to fund SETI and abortions, isn't it?

How does it feel?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Kinda like taking our money to fund SETI and abortions, isn't it?

How does it feel?

I'm sure we could all talk about government programs we don't like.

The real question is about legality and whether this case was adjudicated correctly.

(PS Federal law prevents 'taking our money' to fund abortions for the past 40 years.)

 

[AirPo]

The state of Kentucky must give millions of dollars in tax subsidies to a Noah’s Ark theme park owned by a creationist ministry, even though that ministry refuses to comply with the state’s request not to engage in hiring discrimination, according to an opinion by a George W. Bush appointee to the federal bench. Under Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove’s opinion, the creationist group Answers in Genesis (AiG) stands to gain up to $18 million.

Talk about an activist judge!

 

[JackRT]

I am sure this will be appealed.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Kinda like taking our money to fund SETI and abortions, isn't it?

How does it feel?

Your money doesn't fund abortions, AV -- didn't you know that?

 

[AV1611VET]

Your money doesn't fund abortions, AV -- didn't you know that?

Just the clinics/hospitals where they're performed ... right?

 

[dad]

The state of Kentucky must give millions of dollars in tax subsidies to a Noah’s Ark theme park owned by a creationist ministry, even though that ministry refuses to comply with the state’s request not to engage in hiring discrimination, according to an opinion by a George W. Bush appointee to the federal bench. Under Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove’s opinion, the creationist group Answers in Genesis (AiG) stands to gain up to $18 million.

States with satanic hiring practices can go to hell.

 

[essentialsaltes]

States with satanic hiring practices can go to hell.

I'm sure it's not what you mean, but state governments all adhere to nondiscrimination policies with respect to religion, so all states will hire Satanists.

 

[dad]

I'm sure it's not what you mean, but state governments all adhere to nondiscrimination policies with respect to religion, so all states will hire Satanists.

I don't care who evil people hire.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Just the clinics/hospitals where they're performed ... right?

I didn't realize you were so anti-hospital... but I probably should have.

 

[Hammster]

MOD HAT ON


Moved from Creation & Evolution.


MOD HAT OFF

 

[HannahT]

I found another article. HERE

Steve Beshear, then the Democratic governor of Kentucky, decided in 2014 that the project wouldn’t be eligible for certain tax breaks after learning that the park would “be an extension of (Answers in Genesis’) ministry” and would hire only Christians.

The church then filed a lawsuit alleging violations of its constitutional rights, and Judge Tatenhove agreed in this week’s ruling that the state had infringed on the group’s First Amendment protections by saying it wasn’t eligible for upwards of $18 million in credit.

“The court finds that the Commonwealth’s exclusion of AiG from participating in the program for the reasons stated — i.e., on the basis of AiG’s religious beliefs, purpose, mission, message or conduct, is a violation of AiG’s rights under the First Amendment to the federal Constitution,” Judge Tatenhove wrote.

“Because … AiG has shown a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of their federal First Amendment claims, the Kentucky Constitution cannot bar those claims,” he continued. “When balancing this finding against the other necessary factors, the court concludes that a preliminary injunction is warranted.”

The government’s historical desire to avoid interfering with religious organizations practices, there is a specific exception that exempts religious organizations from the prohibition against discriminating on the basis of religion. Put another way, religious organizations can discriminate against employees on the basis of religion!

I guess since this is a Christian ministry they can request the employees be Christian.

The Present Governor doesn't plan to appeal.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I found another article. HERE



The government’s historical desire to avoid interfering with religious organizations practices, there is a specific exception that exempts religious organizations from the prohibition against discriminating on the basis of religion. Put another way, religious organizations can discriminate against employees on the basis of religion!

I guess since this is a Christian ministry they can request the employees be Christian.

That's not the issue. The issue is whether the state can give tax breaks to organizations that discriminate like that. q.v.

 

[dad]

That's not the issue. The issue is whether the state can give tax breaks to organizations that discriminate like that. q.v.

In other words whether the state will discriminate against believers.

 

[The Cadet]

In other words whether the state will discriminate against believers.

...No, whether the state will provide multiple layers of preferential treatment for believers. The Ark Park is, to my knowledge, not meant as a non-profit. It's supposed to be a business, something which Ken Ham will make quite a bit of money off of. To give that tax-exempt status in the first place simply because it's about religion is preferential treatment. To give that tax-exempt status despite discriminatory hiring is really preferential treatment.