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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/29/2004 5:02:35 PM Home School Legal Defense Association South Carolina--Calls Needed - Help Pass Education Tax Credits |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== April 28, 2004 South Carolina--Calls Needed - Help Pass Education Tax Credits Dear HSLDA members and friends: You have a tremendous opportunity to save tax dollars for homeschoolers! But we need your calls immediately to keep H.B. 4908 alive! The committee vote could be as early as tomorrow. A very favorable tax credit bill, H.B. 4908, is being considered by the South Carolina General Assembly, but it is facing fierce opposition from public school interests. Your calls are needed now to move this bill out of the House Ways and Means Committee. Introduced by Representative Doug Smith (R-Spartanburg) and supported by over 30 co-sponsors, House Bill 4908 would provide income and property tax credits for tuition paid to public or nonpublic schools, including homeschools. Homeschooling families would be entitled to tax credits for expenses incurred for tutors, textbooks, school supplies, fees for membership in an association that sets the academic standards for the student's homeschooling program, and academic lessons. The bill also provides that tax credits are available for contributions to organizations providing scholarships to students for educational expenses. Designated as the "South Carolina Put Parents in Charge Act," this bill has the strong support of Governor Mark Sanford. Please act now to save your family's money later! Requested Action: 1. Please contact all members of the House Ways and Means Committee and your own state representative with this message: "Please vote for House Bill 4908, the South Carolina Put Parents in Charge Act. This bill will empower parents to choose the educational option best for their children and provide tax relief for families with school-age children." Representative Robert W. Harrell, Jr., (803) 734-3144 Representative Larry L. Koon, (803) 734-2963 Representative Thomas G. Keegan, (803) 734-3063 Representative Rex F. Rice, (803) 734-3035 Representative Herb Kirsh, (803) 734-3071 Representative James A. Battle, Jr, (803) 734- 3001 Representative William Clyburn, (803) 734-3033 Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter, (803) 734-2809 Representative William F. Cotty, (803) 734-4851 Representative Daniel T. Cooper, (803) 734-3014 Representative G. Ralph Davenport, Jr., (803) 734-3098 Representative Tracy R. Edge, (803) 734-3013 Representative C. Alexander Harvin III, (803) 734-3135 Representative Shirley R. Hinson, (803) 734-2951 Representative Kenneth Kennedy, (803) 734-2986 Representative Harry B. Limehouse III, (803) 734-2967 Representative Lanny F. Littlejohn, (803) 734-3007 Representative E. DeWitt McCraw, (803) 734-2992 Representative James G. McGee III, (803) 734-3039 Representative Denny Woodall Neilson, (803) 734-3097 Majority Leader Richard M. Quinn, Jr. , (803) 734-3138 Representative J. Roland Smith, (803) 734-3109 Representative Teddy N. Trotter, (803) 734-3036 Representative Lewis R. Vaughn, (803) 734-3141 Representative Annette D. Young, (803) 734-2953 Contact information for members of the House Ways and Means Committee can be obtained by calling (803) 734-3144 or by going to http://www.scstatehouse.net/html-pages/housecommlst.html#way 2. Please forward this e-mail to every homeschooling family you know who is not a member of HSLDA and urge them to contact the legislators above. You can find the name and telephone number of your state representative by using Home School Legal Defense Association's Legislative Toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox Background: After four hours of heated testimony by supporters and opponents before a House Subcommittee on April 20, 2004, the bill was approved by a 2-1 vote and sent to the full Ways and Means Committee for consideration. Action by the Ways and Means Committee may be as early as this week. Homeschoolers currently pay for the public education system while they privately educate their own children. This "double taxation" is unfair. While almost all homeschoolers would like to be free of the tax burden of public schools they do not use themselves, a significant number of homeschool leaders are concerned about any effort to obtain benefits from the government. Most homeschool leaders agree that vouchers (direct payments from the government to private or homeschools) are unacceptable because of the controls and loss of freedom that comes with the money. With H.B.4908's educational tax credits, parents and individuals who provide for a child's education would be allowed to keep some of their tax money that would otherwise have been used to fund public education. Educational tax credit legislation in other states can typically be divided into two categories: tax credits for individuals or corporations who contribute to a non-profit scholarship fund and tax credits reimbursing parents for educational expenses incurred for their children. Arizona passed an educational tax credit law which falls into the first category while Minnesota and Illinois passed a tax credit falling into the second category. H.B. 4908 offers several benefits: * Educational tax credits will give parents true choice in education - This tax credit will help reduce the "double tax burden" on parents who choose private or home education. * Education tax credits will benefit public schools - By encouraging students to attend private schools or homeschools, the tuition tax credit will reduce overcrowded public school classrooms and improve the student-to-teacher ratio. * Education tax credits will benefit low-income families - Most educational tax credit proposals provide a credit for businesses and private individuals who contribute to a nonprofit scholarship fund, which are usually dedicated to helping low-income families. This type of credit provides an incentive to help give low-income families true choice in their children's education. For more information on educational tax credits, see our memorandum at http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200308190.asp To view a copy of the text of House Bill 4908, go to http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess115_2003-2004/bills/4908.htm Please call now! Sincerely, Dewitt T. Black, III HSLDA Senior Counsel {{JoinAd}} ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
