The tax-exempt status for Boy Scouts of America in California may be changed. Under a bill sponsored by Ricardo Lara, California Democratic State Senator from Long Beach, the nonprofit tax breaks of the Boys Scouts of America would be changed to a corporate tax. The bill has cleared its first hurdle with a 5 to 2 vote in the Government and Finance Committee.
The Youth Equality Act, sponsored by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach, would deny tax-exempt status to youth groups that discriminate on the basis of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or religious affiliation.
This would mean that groups like the Boys Scouts that discriminate against gay scouts would no longer get to write off their taxes. They would have to pay their taxes as any other corporation would.
Former Boy Scouts of America president Rick Cronk appeared before the committee on Wednesday, telling members that Scouting has had a positive impact on the state and that being taxed on fundraising sales would hurt local troops.
Mr. Cronk whines about how this will affect the Boy Scouts, but fails to mention how the policy of excluding gay scouts is the root of the problem. If the California chapters allow gay scouts then the nonprofit tax breaks remain.
If the Scouts would reject discrimination as a policy then it would solve their tax problem.
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