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Legislative Action News Alert March 3, 2003 Legislative Acition Alert!
Senator Donne E. Trotter (D)
If you care about the future of your children or the future of Catholic education you must act now before it is too late. Legislative Action News Alert February 20, 2003 Good & Bad News Good news on House Bill 1120
It was all of your great work that made this possible. Thank you. But with every piece of good news comes bad. A bill was introduced in the Senate today to end (completely end) the Education Expense Tax Credit. It has not yet been assigned to a substantive committee, so we are not asking you to do anything at this time. Expect an alert early next week. The fight continues! If you care about the future of your children or the future of Catholic education you must act now before it is too late. Legislative Action News Alert! February 12, 2003 If you care about the future of your children or the future of Catholic education you must act now before it is too late. House Bill 1120 -- greatly restricting eligibility for the Education Expense Tax Credit -- has been assigned to the House Revenue Committee. We have a fighting chance of defeating the bill there. In order for that to happen, we need as much grassroots pressure on the committee members as possible. The legislature is not in session next week so we have at least a week and a half to exert as much pressure as possible. If you happen to live in the districts of any of these legislators we especially need your help. If you need or want more detail on this issue, either call me or visit our website at www.catholicconference.org. Below is a short message to use in either phoning, faxing, emailing, calling, or visiting these legislators, as well as their contact information. "I oppose House Bill 1120. The Education Expense Tax Credit is an important benefit to families choosing the best educational opportunities for their children, and it should not be so greatly restricted. Please vote no on House Bill 1120."
For more information conact: Zachary H. Wichmann Associate Director for Education Catholic Conference of Illinois 217-528-9200
This would strip the tax credit of over $40 million annually, and preclude many of our Catholic school families from being included in this important benefit. It will have a major impact on the future of St. Florian School. We must fight this legislation! Contact your legislator and tell them of your opposition to House Bill 1120. If you need help finding your Representative or Senator contact our offices at either 312-368-1066 or 217-528-9200. More information will be coming in a few days with talking points and language for letters, emails and faxes. Representative Michael Smith of the 91st District (Canton) is sponsoring the legislation. His contact info is: Springfield Office: District Office: Supreme Court Affirms Vouchers - June 27, 2002 The Catholic Conference of Illinois hails todayžs decision by the Supreme Court in the case of Zelman v. Simmons-Harris. According to the court, the Constitutionžs Establishment Clause does not prohibit the application of public money to underwrite tuition at religious schools as long as parents have a choice among a range of religious and secular schools. The court endorsed a 6-year-old pilot program in Cleveland, Ohio that provides parents a tax-supported education stipend to pay tuition for their children to attend schools of their choice. The court majority said the program does not put the government in the unconstitutional position of sponsoring religious indoctrination because parents are empowered to choose for their childrenžs education religious schools, secular private academies, suburban public schools, or charter schools run by parents or others outside the education establishment. „We believe that the program challenged here is a program of true private choice,ū Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote for himself and Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. The 5-4 ruling clears a constitutional cloud from the implementation of school voucher programs and will allow the important debate over parental rights in school choice to move forward across the nation. In Illinois, the debate will now shift to Novemberžs elections and to the General Assembly. The Catholic Conference of Illinois will work to advance this debate and capitalize on the momentum provided by todayžs victory. The Catholic Conference of Illinois hails todayžs decision by the Supreme Court in the case of Zelman v. Simmons-Harris. According to the court, the Constitutionžs Establishment Clause does not prohibit the application of public money to underwrite tuition at religious schools as long as parents have a choice among a range of religious and secular schools. The court endorsed a 6-year-old pilot program in Cleveland, Ohio that provides parents a tax-supported education stipend to pay tuition for their children to attend schools of their choice. The court majority said the program does not put the government in the unconstitutional position of sponsoring religious indoctrination because parents are empowered to choose for their childrenžs education religious schools, secular private academies, suburban public schools, or charter schools run by parents or others outside the education establishment. „We believe that the program challenged here is a program of true private choice,ū Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote for himself and Justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. The 5-4 ruling clears a constitutional cloud from the implementation of school voucher programs and will allow the important debate over parental rights in school choice to move forward across the nation. In Illinois, the debate will now shift to Novemberžs elections and to the General Assembly. The Catholic Conference of Illinois will work to advance this debate and capitalize on the momentum provided by todayžs victory. |