Gohmert opposes estate tax extension because ‘Jesus never advocated the government go steal.’

[Are_grits_groceries]

Today, the House voted 225-200 to permanently extend the estate tax at its 2009 level, which is 45 percent for estates valued at more than $3.5 million ($7 million for a couple). Due to a Bush-era accounting gimmick, the estate tax was set to disappear in 2010, and come back in 2011 at a 55 percent rate on estates of $1 million. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), however, took to the floor to oppose the extension, complaining that his his great aunt once had to pay the 55 percent rate. Gohmert continued by arguing Jesus wouldn’t have wanted an estate tax:

Now, after someone dies and someone comes in and steals from them, we consider that in most society reprehensible. … But when the government comes in, because we have the power to pass laws and legalize theft that otherwise would be considered reprehensible, it’s okay. But it is not okay. … Jesus never advocated the government go steal. He said ‘you do it. Do it with your own money, don’t steal it from somebody else.’ And that is why this should not pass.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/03/gohmert-jesus-tax/

I have no idea what he is talking about. He must have gotten the foreign language cds he ordered: "How to Speak Palinese."
IN what book in the NT did Jeebus talk about estate taxes?
I didn't realize Gawd sent him to be an accountant.

[notadmblnd]

1. I thought Jesus said render unto Ceaser what is Ceasers?

and for some reason, I always thought he meant taxes.

[Kalyke]

2. Because that's what He meant.

In Matthew 17:24-27 we learn that Jesus did indeed pay taxes:

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

"Yes, he does," he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?"

"From others," Peter answered.

"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." (NIV)
The gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke each tell of another account, when the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus in his words, and find a reason to accuse him. In Matthew 22:15-22 we read:

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

"Caesar's," they replied.

Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. (NIV)

This same incident is also recorded in Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20:20-26.

So the gospels leave no doubt that Jesus taught his followers not only in words, but by example, to give to the government any taxes that are owed.

http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/f/biblepayingtax.htm


Sounds like Rep. Louie Gohmert needs to read his Bible some more. Do we have a link to email him around here? I think we should all send him this information.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. Thank you.

That gives me the info I obviously needed. However, I still have no idea what Goner is talking about.

[Blue State Blues]

3. Stopping the 1 year estate-tax repeal saved more grannies than any "No Death Panels"

rhetoric Gohmert and his cronies spouted.

[jwirr]

5. But he did advocate paying your taxes.