House-passed+school-choice+bill+considered+'DOA'

= By **Brad Bumsted** = =// Published by the Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW //= = //5/11/11// = = =

=HARRISBURG -- The state House on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved expanding a state tax-credit program for school choice, which many lawmakers consider a viable alternative to tuition vouchers.= =The bill, however, is "dead on arrival" in the Senate, said Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin County, who heads the chamber's education committee.= =Piccola sponsored legislation that would use taxpayer-funded vouchers for children in private and parochial schools.= ="I am surprised that Senator Piccola would oppose this expansion of a proven program that has provided parents with the opportunity to send their children to the school of their choice," said Rep. Tom Quigley, R-Montgomery County, author of the bill to expand the 2001 tax-credit program.= =The House approved the bill 190-7 yesterday.= =Quigley said he is "confident that in the coming days, upon further reflection, the senator and his colleagues will embrace the idea" of expanding the program.= =The Senate voucher bill would expand the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program. The House version, however, doesn't include vouchers.= =The so-called EITC program gives state tax credits to businesses that contribute to nonprofit groups, which award scholarships for school choice.= =Under the House bill, the $60 million available for tax credits would increase to $100 million for the 2011-12 school year and $200 million in 2012-13. Income eligibility limits for a family of four would increase from $50,000 to $60,000 next school year and to $75,000 after June 30, 2012.= =The Senate has yet to round up votes for the voucher bill, but Piccola and co-sponsor Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia, are driving hard for a vote.= ="We can't continue to sit on the sidelines and wait for a vote on school choice," said Rep. Jim Christiana, R-Beaver County, who voted for the tax credits.= ="We think the EITC is a tried and proven program," said House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods. If the Senate would pass its bill with vouchers, "of course we would have hearings, but our focus is on the budget," Turzai said.= =Voucher proponents say that a fundamental change is needed to allow students to escape failing schools.= = = = Read more: [|House-passed school-choice bill considered 'DOA' - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review] [] = = = = = = = = = = = =News= =home=