COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Political groups outside of
South Carolina are spending money in the state with the goal
of the Legislature passing a tuition tax-credit bill.
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."
---
Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com
