Scholarship+tax+credit+bill+clears+House,+lacks+Senate+support

=By Tracie Mauriello= =//Published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette//= =//5/11/11//=

=HARRISBURG -- Although it easily cleared the House Monday, a bill to provide more tax credits for businesses' scholarship contributions is "dead on arrival" in the Senate according to one lawmaker.= =It's not that senators oppose the idea but that many prefer a controversial school voucher bill that includes educational tax credits as a small component.= =In the House, some see tax credits as an alternative to vouchers.= =Sponsored by Rep. Tom Quigley, R-Montgomery, the House plan would provide an additional $25 million next year and $100 million more in subsequent years for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.= =The program now is funded at $75 million. It provides tax credits of up to 90 percent for businesses contributing scholarships for tuition to private schools.= =Averaging $1,100 each, the scholarships are available to children whose annual family income is less than $50,000. Mr. Quigley's bill would expand eligibility to those whose family income is up to $60,000 next year and $75,000 in 2012.= =The House approved the bill today in a 190-7 vote.= =Senate Education Chairman Jeff Piccola has vowed to hold the bill in committee, preventing it from advancing to a floor vote.= ="He believes House Bill 1330 is dead on arrival over here in the Senate and believes it has no chance of passage," said Piccola spokeswoman Colleen Greer. "He has no intention of voting it out [of committee.]"= =Mr. Piccola believes the Senate voucher bill is the answer, she said.= =Mr. Quigley said vouchers should be considered separately from educational tax credits.= ="Vouchers are a separate debate," he said. "This is about expanding a tax credit program that has a record of success."= =Senate Republican spokesman Erik Arneson said the Quigley bill is being reviewed and they are seeking input from Gov. Tom Corbett.= =Gubernatorial spokeswoman Janet Kelley said the governor supports the program conceptually but is in discussions with legislators about the percentage of contributions businesses should get back as tax credits.= =House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, said he would be surprised if the governor and Senate opposed the tax credit bill.= ="It's a program that has bi-partisan support and gives real opportunities for school choice."= = = =Read more: [] = = = = =

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