Judge rules that state tax credits may not support enrollment in religious schools
June 19, 2013
Citing the state’s Blaine amendment, a New Hampshire judge has ruled that education tax credits designed to help low-income students attend the school of their parents’ choice cannot be used to help students attend religious schools.
Under the state’s program, businesses may receive a tax credit if they donate money to scholarship programs that assist low-income students. The court ruled that it is permissible for the program to assist students who wish to attend non-religious private schools.
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Further information:
- Judge strikes down state education tax credit program, appeal expected (New Hampshire Union Leader)
- In Important Decision, New Hampshire Court Invalidates Tax Credit Scholarships To Sectarian Schools (Religion Clause)
- NH Court: You Can Choose a School So Long as It’s Secular (Cato Institute)
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Posted by: unum -
Jun. 20, 2013 9:22 AM ET USA
This ruling, and many others, incorrectly assume that a taxpayer's funds belong to the government. A tax credit is merely a rule for calculating taxes owed. It is not a "gift" of our own funds from the government!
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Posted by: Defender -
Jun. 19, 2013 11:23 AM ET USA
There are many states that have a Blaine Amendment. So blatantly anti-Catholic, it allows most states (read state education offices and education unions) to cry foul whenever a state moves towards some sort of financial equity in educating children. It seems natural for all state Catholic conferences to work to repeal these laws, but they don't appear to have tried.
