Onward, Christian Taxpayers

Alabama's Republican governor, Bob Riley, has tied support for a $1.2 billion plan to raise taxes to Christian duty.

Interestingly, as this AP account makes clear, Riley's plan includes tax breaks for the poor:

"According to our Christian ethics, we're supposed to love God, love each other and help take care of the poor," he said. "It is immoral to charge somebody making $5,000 an income tax."

That sort of talk riles the head honcho at Alabama's chapter of the Christian Coalition, who retorted, "To give tax relief to the less fortunate is something we can all agree upon, but all families deserve tax relief."

Alabama is facing a $675 million deficit and Riley's plan has garnered support from places that organized Christian groups traditionally associate with godless heathens, including the largest state teachers union and the Democratic party.