NEW YORK
Saratogian
By Michael Hill, The Associated Press
POSTED: 03/19/14
ALBANY >> New York City Cardinal Timothy Dolan and bishops from around the state made a lobbying push at the Capitol on Tuesday for a long-sought tax credit that could save Catholic schools from shuttering.
Dolan and the bishops met with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders to advocate for a tax credit for charitable donations made for educational purposes. The legislation would eventually be worth up to $300 million a year, with half going to public school programs and half going to scholarships for students who attend private schools.
Supporters believe the fresh infusion of scholarship money could save some struggling Catholic schools and help students in all types of schools.
“We’re not talking about different schools — charters, public, Catholic, Jewish, private. No. we’re talking about our kids. Our kids are going to benefit from this,” Dolan said, surrounded by lawmakers and bishops at a news conference.
Though a version of the measure has been approved in the state Senate, it has met resistance in the Democrat-led state Assembly. Supporters, which also include some labor unions, believe they can improve their chances of passage by folding the measure into the state budget due April 1.
Opponents claim the measure would not add money to education, but instead siphon it away from a finite pool of state money. Richard Iannuzzi, president of the New York State United Teachers union, likened it to a voucher system.
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