I just read the following in Vanity Fair (Oct 2006):

...in June, [Florida] Governor Jeb Bush signed into law a bill that exempts theme parks that "display, exhibit, illustrate and interpret biblical manuscripts" from paying local property taxes.

Pardon the pun...but what in the hell is this?

Does this mean we'll see Walt Disney World plugging in "The Many Adventures of Jesus the Christ" into their parks in order to get out of paying Reedy Creek local property taxes? And what would Reedy Creek do without Walt Disney World's taxes?

Will Shamu act as stunt double for Noah's Ark in a big new biblical flood show at Sea World?

Will Universal's "One Fish, Two Fish" attraction be converted into a Jesus "The Feeding Of The 5000" gospel reference?

Good Lord! Where will it all end?

I'll tell you where it will all end. As soon as I finish my 6-CD set "Understanding End Times" about preparing for the end of the world...that's sold in souvenir stands at the Holy Land Experience theme park in Orlando.

I probably should have held off purchasing it until after They start to benefit from this tax break. I bet They will really benefit from this new law!

;)

I have not seen that item confirmed in my preferred sources.

Therefore, I suspect that there is either more to the story, or much, much less to the story.

The usual suspects would have raised Cain (oops! "Biblical reference"!) :eek:

I have not seen that item confirmed in my preferred sources.

Well...I just now Googled "Jeb Bush Tax Break Theme Park" and came up with a selection of hits on this. Including:

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/15525794.htm

Holy Land paid a team of lobbyists between $10,000 and $30,000 to push the legislation through, according to lobbyists' records.

Some Orange County officials argue that Holy Land operates like a business and warn that the tax law could be exploited by other theme parks. "I still believe today that though it's very religious, it's a religious theme park, not a religious entity," said Orange County Property Appraiser Bill Donegan. "What does the Holy Land provide? Goliath burgers."

The park's tax break has also angered church-state separationists who say it favors Judeo-Christian beliefs and makes no provision for other faiths.

The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said Florida lawmakers were duped into signing away tax dollars. "If a Mickey Mouse amusement park has to pay taxes, then a Jesus and Moses park has to pay taxes, too," Lynn said.

As well as some blogs:

http://alasandras.blogspot.com/2006/09/has-anyone-heard-of-separation-of.html

Also mentioned (while it was still pending signature) here:

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/04/30/State/_Tax_cut___a_term_tha.shtml