April 29th, 2009 - Washington, D.C. - Senator John Thune today issued the following statement after his amendment protecting the full tax deduction for charitable giving was dropped from the Democrat budget after conference deliberations between the House of Representatives and the Senate:
"Charities and nonprofits in South Dakota and across the country provide needed services to Americans in a way that government never could. The Democrat-led Conference Committee made a mistake in striking my common sense, bipartisan amendment.
"People do not donate to charities for a tax break, but reducing the deduction will certainly decrease the amount of money available to the charities, nonprofits, and religious organizations that are doing such great work in the face of economic hardship. The Democrat leadership in Congress has prepared a budget that clearly sends the wrong message to those who serve individuals in need, and to those who rely on charitable giving."
Senator Thune's amendment was approved during the Senate's budget debate by an overwhelming vote of 94-3.
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