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Tax Breaks for Private Schools Approved

May 1, 1997
By: Beth Bentley
State Capital Bureau

Lawmakers voted to help fund private schools through a tax credit.

Beth Bentley has the story from Jefferson City.

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Missouri Senators, after hours of debate, narrowly passed an amendment that would to gives both public AND PRIVATE state schools a tax credit of $2500 dollars.

Several Senators argued that the credit is unconstitutional and violates the separation of church and state.

But, St. Louis Senator John Schneider argued that educating children in any school is a public investment.

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Schneider was not alone in his belief. The amendment passed 18 to 13.

From the state capitol, I'm Beth Bentley.

Missouri Senate votes to give a tax credit to parents with children attending both public and private schools.

Beth Bentley has the story from Jefferson City.

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State lawmakers decided to give a $2500 dollar tax credit to parents with students in any Missouri secondary school - both public AND private.

But the vote on this amendment was narrow.

Columbia Senator Ken Jacob said giving the tax break to private schools was unconstitutional.

He argued that it violated the separation of church and state.

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Contents: "The state cannot and should not support established religion...."

Other Senators argued however that the amendment was no different in principle than the Govenor's Challenge Scholarship, which the Senate passed.

The bill now heads to a conference committee of both Representatives and Senators.

From the state capitol, I'm Beth Bentley