EITC expansion could still pass
By Caleb Taylor and Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — House and Senate leaders say it was unlikely any of the school voucher proposals introduced this year will make it across the finish line before June 30.
The Senate Education Committee on Monday pulled from its agenda bill HB 1330, which would increase and expand the state Educational Improvement Tax Credit, or EITC. Lawmakers pushing for a voucher bill hoped to amend the bill to include a provision giving vouchers to low-income students in the state’s worst-performing schools in addition to the EITC expansion.
The bill would have been amended if an agreement could be reached between the Legislature and Gov. Tom Corbett on the voucher plan, but the bill’s failure to progress indicated no deal was made.
“We weren’t ready”, said state Sen. Jeff Piccola, R-Dauphin, chairman of the committee, of the potential compromise.
State Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York, said later Monday that the various voucher proposals were unlikely to move before the end of the week.
With only three days remaining before lawmakers are expected break for the summer, the voucher bill ran out of time, but the expanded EITC measure could pass and be sent to the governor for consideration.
The bill, which passed the state House with bi-partisan support, would increase EITC’s annual cap from $60 million this year to $100 million next year and $200 million in proceeding years. Even without the bill’s passage, the EITC’s cap will increase to $75 million as part of the state budget agreement this year.
The EITC provides scholarships to low-income students and is funded through corporate contributions, for which businesses receive a tax credit.
A voucher program would allow low-income families to redirect the state-level, per-student cost of their public school toward tuition at a private or public school of their choice.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association, or PSEA, the state’s largest teachers’ union, opposes vouchers because it would result in less state funding for traditional public schools.
During the weekend, other politically powerful unions joined the opposition. The Pennsylvania chapter of the AFL-CIO sent emails to all members, asking them to call their lawmakers and encourage a negative vote on the voucher proposals.
The unions do not oppose the EITC proposal, since it is funded through business contributions and not the state education budget. The EITC enjoys broader support in the General Assembly because of the lack of union opposition.
Monday, while speaking at the Pennsylvania Press Club, Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis said the Corbett administration and Legislature still were discussing the voucher proposal.
“I’d like to see a voucher bill as soon as possible,” Tomalis said. “It’s my hope that we could do it this week.”
State Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks, chairman of the House Education Committee, said he would be disappointed if the EITC bill didn’t become part of the final state budget.
“The bill can still move on its own. There’s no reason to tie it with any piece of legislation,” said Clymer.
Last week, Corbett said he supported the passage of the voucher bill before the June 30 budget deadline.
“I believe we’re in a good position to get it passed, but it’s going to take a push,” Corbett said.
He went on to say the state was closer to passing the voucher bill than it was under Gov. Tom Ridge, who twice tried unsuccessfully to have voucher proposals passed in the mid-1990s, once falling short by less than 10 votes in state House.
