(WASHINGTON, December 7, 2012) — Independent Sector released the following statement:

“In order to put America on a sustainable fiscal path, Independent Sector has long held the view that deficit reduction efforts must include sensible spending cuts, to both discretionary and mandatory programs, as well as revenue increases that maintain the progressivity of the tax code while asking those who can afford to contribute more to do so. At the same time we have fought and will continue to fight any proposal that would limit the ability of Americans to fully deduct their charitable contributions, as they have been able to do for nearly a century. During a meeting with senior White House staff earlier this week, one of four requests made by Independent Sector was that the administration take off the table its proposal to limit the charitable deduction for certain taxpayers. Similarly, in dozens of meetings on Capitol Hill in recent weeks, we have urged lawmakers to reject a Republican proposal to impose an aggregate cap on itemized deductions. We strongly believe the charitable deduction has no place in discussions about the fiscal cliff.”

Read IS Guiding Principles for Deficit Reduction and Tax Reform.

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Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of approximately 600 charities, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit and philanthropic community.  Learn more at IndependentSector.org.