Straight Talk With Sam (Season of Giving)

Straight Talk With Sam (Season of Giving)

Americans are very generous folks, especially those in Northwest Missouri. Donating to a charity is one of the greatest gifts one can give, and there is no greater time to give than the holiday season.

We see our churches collecting clothes for those less fortunate, local organizations gathering special goods to send to our loved ones serving our country overseas, and school children going out on canned food drives to collect food for the hungry. Charities play an important role in our society, because they can provide much needed help to the poor. And charities can only work with the help of generous Americans.

Many Missourians are anxious to help, but Uncle Sam hasn't always made it easy. Until recently, taxpayers who did not itemize their deductions on their tax forms were not eligible to deduct their charitable contributions from their income. This was simply not fair. But with the help of my colleagues earlier this year, Congress passed a bill which allowed every taxpayer to deduct charitable contributions, regardless of whether they itemize their deductions.

Americans can afford to be more generous when they have more money in their wallets. This bill ended the practice of giving some taxpayers financial relief for their generosity while excluding others. It's only fair we treat every charitable contribution the same, especially during this holiday season.

http://www.house.gov/graves/straighttalk/2006issue50.htm