Outside groups push for S.C. tax credits

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Political groups outside of South Carolina are spending money in the state with the goal of the Legislature passing a tuition tax-credit bill.

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All Children Matter, a Michigan-based group, and Legislative Education Action Drive (LEAD), based in Washington, D.C., have spent tens of thousand of dollars here to that end. Both organizations say they plan to keep going through the Nov. 2 elections and next year's legislative session.

All Children Matter bought radio commercials before last month's state primary. The group also sent mailers about candidates support for tax cuts.

LEAD helped a local organization, South Carolinians for Responsible Government, run a phone back that connected voters with their state lawmakers.

Gov. Mark Sanford backed tuition tax credits during his election campaign two years ago. A bill Sanford supported this year would have given parents income-tax credits to send their children to private schools, the public school of their choice or to use for home-school expenses.

The bill died in committee, but lawmakers promised to introduce it again next session.

Sanford spokesman Will Folks said the groups have a right to be active.

"There is an opportunity (in South Carolina) that we see to push some type of school choice," said J. Sam Daniels, a Charlotte-based political consultant working with All Children Matter.

Added Bill Wilson, LEAD's director, "Like any group, we target our resources where we think we can do the most good."

Daniels and Wilson say tax credits will bring children a better education, and the resulting competition with force public schools to improve.

Bridgette Reeves says it takes her $14,000 in tuition a year and a daily 138-mile round trip from Lancaster County so her son, Brandon, can go to Glenforest School in Columbia. Brandon has a learning disability, she said.

Reeves says any group pushing for tax credits, no matter what state they're from, is a help to children like her son.

Opponents of tax credits say many low-income parents don't make enough money to benefit from the plan. They say the program would take money and resources from public schools.

"This is part of a national school voucher campaign," said Rep. Joel Lourie, D-Richland. "I see it as an attack on public education in our state."

Tax credits let parents claim school costs against their tax liability, while vouchers are government grants to send children to private school.

Lourie faces a challenging race against attorney Ken Wingate for a state Senate seat this November.

During the Republican primary, All Children Matter paid for radio ads and mailers on Wingate's behalf. The two groups spent about $150,000 on ads and direct mailings in South Carolina.

All Children Matter got $919,500 in contributions the past six months. Daniels said they will spend the money in South Carolina and other states.

Susan Brill, a Republican member of the Richland County Council, says part of the reason she lost a state House primary to councilwoman Joan Brady was because of ads and mailers from All Children Matter. Brill says she's bothered by outsiders influencing South Carolina.

"These are local issues, this is statewide government, we're representing a very specific constituency," Brill said. "They shouldn't have the influence over a local State House race like this."

Others say the groups deal with an issue many South Carolinians care about.

"It's a group that has a goal of trying to make improvements to education, and they are out there exercising their constitutional rights," said Chip Campsen, a Charleston state Senate candidate supported by All Children Matter. "Plenty of groups do that."

--From the Monday, July 26, 2004 online edition of the Augusta Chronicle