Ariz. lawmakers support $60M private school tax credit program

15 comments:

• mikedurham posted at 3:03 pm on Sun, Dec 9, 2012.

  Posts: 101

  It would seem that public schools could benefit from a similar plan of tax defuctible domations.
  

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• downtownresident posted at 1:56 pm on Sun, Dec 9, 2012.

  Posts: 813

  Ateam1,
  You've made me so happy. You actually read my stuff![beam]

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• SculptorDad posted at 11:31 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 25

  Good to see that we citizens are not fooled by this creepy religious freak scam. Why are the elected representatives continuing to vote the way the lobbyists pay them to?

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• samkat posted at 8:13 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 1175

  ateam: Who put the burr under your saddle? :-)

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• fpsbblu posted at 8:11 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 1

  I am a parent, a taxpayer, I vote, and for my third career I teach in a public high school.
  I am all for parents having the right to send their children to the school of their choice.
  I agree that if the legislature wants to give people or corporations a dollar for dollar break on their taxes then so be it. However, I do not agree with the following.

  If people or corporations get a dollar for dollar tax credit of $500 or $1000.00 then those that donate to public schools should be afforded the same amount. Currently individuals can donate $200.00 and couples $400.00 for extracurricular activities only.

  I believe that the private schools should be held to the same Common Core Curriculum Standards and assessments that public schools are held to.,

  I also believe that if a legislator is involved in one of the private schools he/she should step down from any committee that votes on bills affecting private schools

  My experience with Collective bargaining for public school employees in Arizona is a joke, school districts put an offer on the table if employees do not accept it the school district finds new employees. There is no need to legislate collective bargaining in Arizona public schools.
  

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• az2008 posted at 1:29 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 307

  Jim, the reason the AZ Constitution requires the state to fund education is so we all have "skin in the game" and work to improve public education. If you can remove yourself, get a refund from the state, and spend that money with others of similar values, it leaves public education not only unfunded (per the constitution), but eliminates the influence of those similar-minded folks upon the system as a whole.

  That's what's bad about this. If public education has outlived its usefulness, the solution is to amend the Constitution.

  IMO, that's the real irony. Advocates of "private" schooling tend to be the types who complain about big government and "follow the constitution."

  Personally, I wish we'd amend the Constitution to block collective bargaining from public schools (and perhaps any taxpayer-funded job). I think that would fix most of the problem privateers have with public education. It would give them more influence versus the education monopoly.

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• Mike McClellan posted at 1:20 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 820

  Besides Yarbrough's obvious conflict of interest noted by downtownresident above, there's the spectacular hypocrisy of these Republicans:

  While they call for increased accountability for public schools -- which is fine -- they require zero accountability for their beloved voucher programs.

  For all of the kids who use the voucher to go to private schools, no testing is required to account for the kids' achievement.

  In other words, the voucher advocates have no idea if this program they so call for actually works.

  Spectacular hypocrisy: They are supposedly so careful about how our taxes are spent, yet with this program, they have no idea if the money they hand over is useful.

  They always like to talk about the ROI, the return on investment. Yet here -- with their pet program -- they don't have a clue about the ROI.

  Pathetic.

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• jimnbubba posted at 1:09 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 18

  These folks pay taxes also and if they can send their children to schools that have students who want to learn and not just hang out and get free meals ,they have my support

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• downtownresident posted at 12:39 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 813

  Scum rises to the top, even in the trough of public taxpayer fraud.
  Steve Yarbrough, Executive Director of AZ Christian Schools Tuition Org. is also chairman of ways and means committee. This means that the taxpayers of Arizona are paying this thief to steal from us.
  If this isn't illegal, it only proves how corrupt the "leaders" of Arizona really are.
  THESE PEOPLE CALL THEM SELVES CHRISTIONS????????????????
  They should be in jail.
  Steve, how do you live with yourself??????
  God will punish you.

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• downtownresident posted at 12:16 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 813

  DataMan ,
  Laws, ethics, honesty, morality and rules don't apply to them. They do as they please.
  This is from the mental midget's own web site:

  ( ) = Recessed until Date/Time
  Senate Committee Agendas
  
  No Active Committee Agendas

  House Committee Agendas
  
  No Active Committee Agendas

  JLBC Agendas
  
  
  No Active Committee Agendas

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• az2008 posted at 12:02 pm on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 307

  I don't understand how they are "private" schools when they are supported (significantly) by taxpayer money.

  Some will say a "credit" isn't the same as funding "private" schools directly from the legislature. But, when the state reduces the tax burden of one individual (for attending "private" school), it shifts the cost of government to other tax payers. It's like giving a tax credit to anyone who shops at Fry's Food, and then disingenuously saying Fry's Food isn't taxpayer funded (compared to Basha's, et. al.).

  Some will say it's a credit for taxes going to public schools which the taxpayer isn't using. But, the AZ Constitution requires funding of public schools. Not just by those who use them. If the credit is indeed a way to repay an individual for *not* using public schools, then it's little more than a way to circumvent the Constitution without the amendment process (and the public debate that process is intended to produce).

  I agree with Irons. When you look more deeply into this, it has corruption written all over it. Legislators who support so-called "private" education have business interests in that sector.

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• az2008 posted at 11:53 am on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 307

  Data, committee panels can meet when the Legislature is not in session. And, this vote was only a recommendation to the legislature, which the article clearly says convenes next month.

  Howie's title is a bit misleading, as it sounds like the legislature approved something.

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• DataMan posted at 11:15 am on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 167

  How can these clowns vote on ANYTHING right now, as they are not in session! And the 2013 Legislature has yet to be eve sworn in.

  2013 is also when the GOP clowns lose their super majority in both the AZ House and AZ Senate...

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• downtownresident posted at 11:14 am on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 813

  The greedy, mental midgets running this state are so intent on profiting from the poor taxpayers in any way they can that they pass these self serving giveaways that benefit their Mormon friends and stake members, as well as some other profiteers who contribute (bribe) to them.
  These "schools" are cash cows for the cult members who are owners and investors. Anybody who thinks this is about a well rounded education is either a moron or an administrator or owner of one of these factories.
  Bend over, here it comes!

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• Irons1 posted at 10:40 am on Sat, Dec 8, 2012.

  Posts: 162

  Of course, they voted for this. Many legislators are making money for being associated with private schools.

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