Hearing Produces Sharp Opinions About Tax Breaks for Charitable Gifts

Lawmakers and witnesses at a Senate Finance Committee hearing disagreed Tuesday over whether the charitable deduction is sacrosanct­ — or fair game for policymakers who are seeking to raise federal revenue or make the tax system more fair.

The Senate committee played host to the hearing to spotlight issues involved in the debate over whether to limit the charitable deduction as part of a plan to reduce the nation’s budget deficit.