HB1003 (voucher bill): Questions for Rep. Ed Clere.

(Courtesy of Vic’s Statehouse Notes #83 – April 25, 2011)

Dear Friends,

Thursday’s historic Senate vote on the voucher bill was not reported in the Indianapolis Star, Indiana’s largest newspaper.

An excellent letter to the editor by Susan Blackwell opposing vouchers was printed in Friday’s paper, but there was no report on the vote. More importantly, the public has not been informed that the first-ever “foot in the door” state tax benefit for home schools has been added to HB 1003, which already contained the monumental change to allow state funding for religious school tuition for the first time since the 1851 Constitution was written.

Apparently, the first step in the abandonment of public education in Indiana is not newsworthy to the editors of the Star.

Well, if you are not being kept informed by the paper, you still know all about HB 1003 if you are reading these notes. Please remember that the deal is not done. Since the voucher bill has not been finalized, I hope you are ready to contact your legislators today with these questions:

Questions for Members of the House of Representatives

1) Will you turn back the Senate’s decision to add tax breaks for home school parents by opposing HB 1003 when it comes back to the House for concurrence?

2) Since the tax deduction provision does not define “home school” or “eligible home school”, won’t the door be open to fraud?

3) After elaborate discussions to define “eligible students” and “eligible schools” in the voucher bill, how in good conscience can undefined “home schools” be added to the bill for their first tax break in Indiana history?

4) Since the tax deductions also apply to expenses for private schools, shouldn’t eligible private schools be defined? Are all private schools eligible, even those unaccredited, or are only private schools that are eligible for the voucher program also to be eligible for the new income tax break?

5) How can $3 million be made available for this new, unvetted income tax deduction for home school and private school expenses when the line item of $5 million in the 2009 budget for professional development has been zeroed out?

6) Why should home school parents get a tax deduction for textbook fees when public school parents don’t?

7) Does the Senate’s action to remove the requirement that to be eligible for vouchers, the school must verify compliance with the Americans for Disabilities Act, fire safety requirements, and health standards under federal law change your vote?

8) Does the Senate’s action to delete the provision that schools eligible for vouchers must adhere to “state teacher evaluation requirements” change your mind about supporting the bill?

Many members of the House signed on to voting for the voucher bill reluctantly in the midst of stiff opposition from public school parents and educators back home. Adding a “first ever, foot-in-the-door” income tax deduction for home schools might give them pause before concurring with this plan, but only if they know you are watching and asking these questions.