Judge Sides With Group Building Noah's Ark on Tax Incentive

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Judge Sides With Group Building Noah's Ark on Tax Incentive

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jan 25, 2016, 8:08 PM ET

A religious group building a massive Noah's Ark tourist attraction in Kentucky has won a legal battle over the state's withdrawal of a potential tax incentive worth millions.

A federal judge ruled Monday that Kentucky officials violated the ark builders' First Amendment protections by blocking it from the sales tax tourism incentive that could have been worth up to $18 million.

The Ark Encounter, being built by Christian group Answers in Genesis, is due to open in July.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled the state's Tourism Cabinet cannot exclude the ark attraction from the incentive based on its "religious purpose and message." The state initially celebrated the project but reversed course in late 2014.

Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham says the ruling is a "victory for the free exercise of religion in this country."

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-sides-group-building-noahs-ark-tax-incentive-36514657

[goldent]

1. Surprising how some judges really don't understand the 1st amendment

[Lordquinton]

2. I too feel my first amendment rights are being violated

give me $15,000,000

[Leontius]

3. If the state requires them to collect a sales tax then they should be able to receive

the incentive just like anyone else.

[rug]

5. If religion is involved, don't expect them to agree.

[Goblinmonger]

6. That makes zero sense.

It's not taxing their income, it's taxing what they collect from others. They pay nothing in taxes by collecting sales tax.

[Leontius]

7. Exactly they are providing a service for the state

so they should be eligible for the incentive just like any other collector of that tax. Their tax exempt status has nothing to do with this.

[Goblinmonger]

8. So every store and museum gets millions of dollars?

Seems like a bad plan.

[cleanhippie]

9. What's that smell?

[Leontius]

10. Take that up with the state of Kentucky they seem to think it will benefit them.

Do you know the details of the plan? If not then maybe you should find out and offer and informed opinion of it rather than a kneejerk dismissal.

[Goblinmonger]

11. Or you should? I'm replying to your claim about what was going on.

I don't think this has much to do with the collection of sales tax and paying them for the onerous task of collecting tax. I would imagine from what I read that it has to do with an incentive for things that will bring people into the state for tourism.

But, again, I was responding to YOUR claim as to what it was for, so I don't see the need to admonish me about not knowing something.

[cleanhippie]

4. Just read that it's not that simple.

Apparently, this allows the application process to move forward, it doesn't grant the subsidies.

Looking for the link...