Tax Credits for Scholarship Organizations (H 7055)

This bill would have greatly expanded a tax credit for businesses that make donations to "scholarship organizations" that funnel money to private and parochial schools for tuition purposes. At a time when public schools' budgets across the state continue to face hardships, it is simply unacceptable to be expanding the aid the state provides to private schools, even if it is done indirectly through a tax credit. While supporters have argued that low- and middle-income parents need alternatives to poorly performing public schools, diverting tax dollars to private schools is not the solution. The ACLU testified in opposition to this bill, which was not acted upon by the committee.