Kucinich endorses Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund

John Lewis's (D-GA) bill to create a Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund.

http://www.peacetaxfund.org/news/2005-12-20-newcosponsor.htm7
On December 15, Representatives Dennis Kucinich (OH-10) and Julia Carson (IN-07) added their names to the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill, H.R. 2631. This bill now has support from 41 members of Congress, including lead sponsor Rep. John Lewis (GA-05).

Kucinich, whose 2004 Presidential campaign embodied the ideals of many progressives, is also the lead sponsor of a bill to establish a Department of Peace. This is his first time to cosponsor the Peace Tax Fund Bill. Kucinich, in his 5th term in Congress, represents areas in and around Cleveland.

This is Carson's 4th time cosponsoring H.R. 2631. In her 5th term in Congress, Carson is the successor to Andy Jacobs who was the lead sponsor of the Peace Tax Fund Bill in the early 1990s. Carson represents Indianapolis.

The Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund Bill only needs four more cosponsors to add their names within the next year to garner the most cosponsors it has had since 1990. Rep. Ron Dellums first introduced this bill in 1972 as the World Peace Tax Fund Bill. It has been re-introduced each year since then, with several name and wording changes over the years.

http://www.peacetaxfund.org/thebill/why-a-ptf.htm

How the Peace Tax Fund Bill would work

The Peace Tax Fund Bill would affect the "current military" portion of the U.S. budget. The Peace Tax Fund Bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to permit taxpayers conscientiously opposed to participating in war to have their income, estate or gift tax payments spent for non-military purposes only. The Bill excuses no taxpayers from paying their full tax liability.

Where the Peace Tax Fund money would go

The full federal taxes of conscientious objectors would be placed into a special trust fund in the Treasury, called the Religious Freedom Peace Tax Fund. The Treasury would be allowed to spend this money on any governmental program that does not fulfill a military purpose.

to see this go through. Wonder what would happen if 95% of the people voted "no" to war with their tax money.

some have taken upon themselves to protest the 'war tax':

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/251575_wartax10.html

Many refuse to pay 'war tax' on phone bill
Providers go along; IRS frowns, but does little

By M.L. LYKE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

For Seattle peace activist Bert Sacks, the monthly act of resistance adds up to only 59 cents. Symbolically, however, refusing to pay the "war tax" on his Qwest phone bill represents a pocketbook protest against what he sees as misuse of U.S. military power.

"I object to the U.S. government policy of using famine and epidemic as tools against civilian populations. That's wrong," says the retired engineer, who has fought for a decade to get economic sanctions against Iraq lifted.

Sacks is one of thousands of Americans believed to be refusing to pay the federal taxes attached to their monthly phone bills -- money that helps fund military operations overseas.

Many are taking the step as a protest against the war in Iraq. And in many cases, the phone companies are helping them do it.

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