Referring to a quote in LDS scripture Butler offered about taking care of the poor and needy, task force co-chairman Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, said: "There will be goodness in people to take care of others with or without tax incentives. Why is it essential to give a tax incentive for people to do what they should be doing anyway?"

Butler said the deduction may bring those teetering on the edge to give, or may convince those already giving to give more. Others said government should support and encourage people to do right, and tax incentives speak to what society values.

Jerman presented data that showed homeownership is highest in West Virginia, and that state has no deduction for mortgage interest. Other states with a high percent of home ownership also don't give the deduction.

But Mike Ostermiller of the Utah Association of Realtors said that, among many other reasons to keep the deduction, as more and more states adopt a flat rate tax without the mortgage interest deduction, the greater chance that Congress will do likewise. And since the deduction is worth so much more to homeowners on their federal income tax returns, losing that deduction "would have a real impact" on the ability of Americans to own a home.

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