The Jewish Federations of North America has criticized how President Barack Obama proposes funding his jobs bill, although it has praised other elements of the bill (such as proposed payroll cuts and subsidies for hiring the long-term unemployed).
The jobs bill introduced last week would cut write-offs for charitable donations from 35 percent to 28 percent for those earning $200,000 a year or families earning $250,000 as a means of funding in part its other proposals, which include payroll tax cuts and increased hiring of teachers, first responders and others.
“Limiting the itemized deduction would certainly lead to a significant decrease in charitable contributions,” William Daroff, the Washington JFNA director, told the Chronicle of Philanthropy. — jta