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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/23/2005 12:00:44 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Indiana--Calls Needed Immediately to Support $500 Tax Credit for Homeschools |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== February 23, 2005 Indiana--Calls Needed Immediately to Support $500 Tax Credit for Homeschools Dear HSLDA members and friends: How would like to receive a $500 tax credit for homeschooling? Now is your chance to make this educational tax credit a reality by calling your state representative. House Bill 1009, introduced by Representative Bob Behning, passed the House Education Committee on Wednesday, February 16th. This bill will enable parents to receive up to a $500 tax credit for their educational expenses, which will be applied to state income taxes. The tax credit is scheduled to increase by $500 each year until it reaches $3,000. The bill will provide a tax credit for parents who choose a non-public school, including a homeschool, or a public school. It will also provide a Freedom to Achieve Scholarship to permit a child to attend a non-public school or a different public school if they are attending a failing public school. Time is very short. This bill will likely have its 2nd reading on Thursday and its 3rd reading on Monday. If the bill is not passed by the House on Monday, it is likely that the bill will be defeated for this session. We need your calls immediately! ACTION REQUESTED Please call your state representative with this message: "Please vote for HB 1009 because it will empower parents to choose the best education for their children." You can contact your state representative by calling l 800-382-9842 or 317-232-9600. You can also find specific contact information for your representative with our legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox/ . BACKGROUND 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. As an alternative, HSLDA recommends another vehicle: educational tax credits. Parents and individuals who provide for a child's education should be allowed to keep some of their tax money that would otherwise have been used to fund public education. This goal could be accomplished through a tax credit. Educational tax credit legislation 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. Education tax credits offer 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 class sizes and the student-to-teacher ratio, making more teachers available to public school students. * 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/elink.asp?ID=2137 Sincerely, Chris Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> For as little as 27 cents a day... There's not much you can get for 27 cents a day. Why not put your money toward peace of mind for yourself and your family? More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1110 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== 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. ====================================================================== | |
