KY cuts funds for education, healthcare to give tax breaks for Creationist theme park

A state contractor has concluded that Ark Encounter, a Bible theme park that is generating much controversy, has met Kentucky's requirements to receive $43 million in tax incentives. Additionally, taxpayers may have to pony up another $11 million to improve a highway interchange near the site. The 800-acre park, scheduled to open in 2014, will include a 500-foot model of Noah's Ark and a replica of the Tower of Babel. It is operated by Answers in Genesis, which also runs a nearby creation museum.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State says that Kentucky is "subsidizing fundamentalist religion," and says it will investigate whether the tax package violates the constitutional separation of church and state.

"Let these folks build their fundamentalist Disneyland without government help," said Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United, according to CBN News. "They want to launch this ark on a sea of tax breaks - money that will ultimately have to be made up by Kentucky taxpayers. I feel sorry for the children of Kentucky. At a time when they should be learning modern science, their public officials are subsidizing religion."

This comes at a time when Kentucky residents are already saying goodbye to important social programs that are being cut. Over the past three years, the state has gone through eight rounds of budget cuts, including education-related cuts and a pay freeze for all teachers and state workers, notes thinkprogress.org. The state has also cut funding for Medicaid by shifting enrollees to managed care plans, which sometimes makes it more difficult for enrollees to access care and increases administrative costs by up to 20 percent, according to thinkprogress.

continue reading at: http://www.peoplesworld.org/kentucky-approves-tax-breaks-for-ark-park/

highly competitive global world in the 21st century. I feel very saddened for the kids that innocently get caught up in the BS and denied a good education, and all those in need of health services.