No one argues about the constitutionality of giving taxpayer dollars to charity anymore. The only uproar comes from nonprofits, like those in Anne Arundel County who would lose funding in next year?s proposed budget, when they cannot count on government largesse.
But the debate about whether, not just how much and who should receive grants, must be a worthy topic for government at alllevels.
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Republican Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold admirably made funding charities an issue in his latest budget proposal, which cut $3.1 million in community grants from the previous budget, calling them “political handouts.” He is not alone in thinking that way, but it?s been a long time since anyone made the argument.
U.S. Rep. David Crockett, the Alamo hero, told his congressional colleagues taxpayer money was not theirs to give. And James Madison, one of the main authors of the U.S. Constitution, and others said the document did not authorize the federal government to give money to any charity ? except to organizations fulfilling a small set of constitutional mandates including overseeing the armed forces and executing laws.
The definition of what the federal government is allowed to fund has changed dramatically since this country was founded. Congress in 1796 voted against giving Savannah, Ga. ? then a major economic center ? money to reconstruct the city after a devastating fire described as a national disaster. Can you imagine a similar response after Hurricane Katrina? Almost instantaneously the government handed out $1,000 debit cards to victims, among other aid.
But the expansion of government services, constitutional or not, must not provide a carte blanche to fund every supposedly worthy cause that comes along at the federal, state or local level. First, individuals, not governments, are best equipped to decide which charities deserve their dollars. And second, when government doles out charity dollars, reasons will always exist to question the propriety and motivation of such “donations” as politicians always seek votes.
Anne Arundel County Council members should use this budget debate as an opportunity to define the services required of the local government that it can?t fulfill on its own. An open meeting would provide a good forum for the debate. After making a decision aboutwhich services to fund, all groups currently on the county dole not meeting those criteria should be dropped and all those who submit requests in the future must clearly describe how their work fits with the county?s mission. The county must also make available its decision and an easily accessible online database of groups receiving funding and their history. If government must show favorites it should at least make transparent its reasons for doing so.
