2018 Session is Finally Over!
It’s been a crazy session. A lot of ups and downs. I have learned a lot over this session, especially about God’s faithfulness and goodness. Thank you all for your prayers!
Update on SB18-083 Education Income Tax Credits for Nonpublic School
This bill, brought by Senator Lundberg and Representative Ransom, would allow homeschool families to claim a tax credit for home educating their child. Though current homeschoolers could not benefit from it, it would benefit those moving out of the public school system into homeschooling and those beginning to homeschool their kindergartener.
I greatly appreciate those who were in attendance and who testified on Monday when this bill was being heard in the House Education Committee! The more we show up, the greater our voice becomes.
This is the sixth year some form of this bill has been brought before the Colorado Assembly. Each year it has been stopped and this year has been no different. There are two reasons why this bill, or any bill that would give homeschoolers a tax break, is not able to move forward. First, the public school system has a monopoly on tax dollars for education and they will not easily let that go. Second, the so-called Blaine Amendment (Colorado Constitution Article V, Section 34) is seen as a Constitutional way to keep the state from giving a tax break for education that offers any religious teaching. (Click here for an article with more information about the Blaine Amendment).
The opposition claims this tax credit is a backdoor voucher, but that is blatantly false. A tax credit merely lowers the amount of taxes owed. Vouchers are a system whereby the state pays for a student to go to a school of their choosing. With vouchers, the money is directly paid out of the state budget to a school. When using a tax credit, the money never gets to the state to begin with, therefore, the state is not making a payment to anyone.
For more information on education tax credits see this issue statement by HSLDA.
Watch your email for an end-of-session update later in the month!
Keep praying! The Lord is on the throne and we need His assistance to win the spiritual battle that has engulfed our society.
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