Orrin Hatch: “today I wish to discuss a topic that has been near and dear to me my entire life: the importance of charities and…”

“today I wish to discuss a topic that has been near and dear to me my entire life: the importance of charities and charitable giving to the well-being of America. I am taking this moment to discuss this issue for several reasons. Late last year, Congress managed to make permanent a few of the temporary charitable tax provisions that I have supported for years. Since then, two of my esteemed colleagues, Senator Thune and Senator Wyden, have introduced legislation to enact several more important charitable tax provisions. And later this week, the Alliance for Charitable Reform, the Council on Foundations, and the Independent Sector will send its members to fan out across Capitol Hill to tell Members of Congress and their staffs about the good and essential work charities and nonprofits perform every day in America. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote in ``Democracy in America'' of the importance of intermediate associations that stand between the individual and a centralized state. The Catholic Church speaks about subsidiarity, the principle that matters ought to be handled by the least centralized competent authority. To put these insights into constitutional terms, the Federal Government cannot--and should not--do it all.…”