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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/18/2004 3:34:30 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Arizona--Calls Needed for Scholarship Credits |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== February 18, 2004 Arizona--Calls Needed for Scholarship Credits Dear HSLDA members and friends: Arizona is one of a handful of states that provide some tax relief for private educators. Arizona's Scholarship Tax Credit was the first law in the nation to allow state taxpayers to donate their own money to private scholarship funds, which can then be used to send children to private schools instead of public schools. This law has been challenged by the teacher's union, ACLU, and People for the American Way, but the Arizona Supreme Court ruled in favor of it, holding that your money does not become "state money" just because the state allows you to keep it by means of a tax credit. The United States Supreme Court refused to overturn that decision, so Arizona's Scholarship Tax Credit is secure from judicial attack at this time. Despite this, opponents of school choice keep trying to overturn or undermine this unique tax credit law. Fortunately, some friends of educational freedom are still trying to expand it. Senate Bill 1280 would allow corporations to donate money to these scholarship funds, in addition to the individual taxpayers who are already doing so. Despite Arizona's difficult budget crunch, the Senate Finance Committee voted to pass this bill. It is now held up in the Education Committee, where two key Senators have the power to kill it. We need you to call to keep school choice advancing in Arizona. Action Requested: 1. Please call Senator Toni Hellon, the Chair of the Education Committee, at 602-926-4326. Please say, "Please support SB 1280. Corporations pay taxes to support the public schools: please let them help support private schools, too." 2. Please call Senator Karen Hale at 602-926-4323. Say, "Please vote for SB 1280. The Senate Finance Committee says Arizona can afford it. Make sure the Education Committee supports more options for Arizona children." Background: Arizona Scholarship Tax Credit is the first of its kind, and has been copied to some degree by Pennsylvania and Florida. In both of those states, only corporations, not individual taxpayers, can donate to scholarship funds. In both Pennsylvania and Florida, corporations are providing money so that poor children can attend private schools. In Florida, homeschools can operate as private schools, so this money can actually benefit families who are teaching their own children in their own homes. This is not true in Arizona. Pennsylvania and Florida have demonstrated that corporations are willing to donate money to help advance private scholarship funds. SB 1280 would expand educational choice in your state. The Finance Committee has already determined that Arizona can afford this additional tax credit. It is now up to Arizona homeschoolers to persuade the Senate Education Committee to allow this new scholarship initiative to proceed. Sincerely, Scott Somerville HSLDA Staff Attorney {{JoinAd}} ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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