House lawmakers this week begin hearings on one of the most controversial questions facing the Legislature — whether to give tax breaks for private school tuition.

It will be the first time this year that lawmakers have officially discussed the bill — backed by Gov. Mark Sanford — but they already have heard lots about it.

Supporters and opponents say the program could radically change the public school system.

Emotional pleas from both sides have divided lawmakers. Proponents say public schools need to be pushed to improve. Opponents say the tax credit would take resources from public schools just when they’re starting to show improvement.

The bill would allow parents with taxable incomes up to $75,000 to take a tax credit for a portion of the cost to home-school their children or to send them to private school or another public school.

As they go into their first meeting Wednesday, members of the subcommittee are leaning 3-2 in favor of the bill. But some already are saying they want to consider changes to it or another proposal altogether.

“The committee’s an open book,” said Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston. “We’ll consider any and all proposals.”

Another member of the panel, Rep. Jim McGee, R-Florence, said he hopes to offer an alternative plan. He supports funneling help only to low-income parents in failing schools.

McGee’s proposal would not give a tax credit — which wouldn’t help low-income parents who already pay little in taxes — but would give a check upfront to help pay for school expenses.

“I’m trying to give a choice to parents who don’t otherwise have a choice,” he said. “This is not going to fix the education system; this is relief for families in a specific situation.”

Others in the House have suggested a pilot program in a few counties, said Rep. Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, who chairs the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

Subcommittee members who are leaning toward favoring the bill — McGee, Limehouse and Rep. Shirley Hinson, R-Berkeley — are expected to pass it on to the full Ways and Means Committee.

They say the state should be creative and help parents find options to failing public schools.

“If you continue to do the same thing, you’re going to continue to get the same thing,” said Hinson, who chairs the subcommittee.

But it’s unclear whether the full Ways and Means Committee will approve the bill. The last count showed it would fail by a few votes, members said.

Rep Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, one of two Democrats on the subcommittee, opposes the plan and hopes the subcommittee will deliberate carefully.

“We need to focus all of our energy and resources” on public schools, she said.

“I am very much interested in hearing from those folks who are in support of it. I want to hear how this is not taking dollars from public schools.”

Supporters of the plan say it would not have much effect on public school funding. Opponents disagree — they say it would siphon money from schools and other state programs.

State officials estimated a version of the tax credit proposed last year would have cost the state $234.4 million by fiscal year 2009-10. That bill failed to make it to the full House.

They likely will present a new cost estimate this week.

Reach Talhelm at (803) 771-8339 or jtalhelm@thestate.com.