The centerpiece of Gov. Mark Sanford’s education agenda — private school tuition tax credits — faces a tough fight in the S.C. House for a second consecutive year.

During the opening week of the legislative session, the bill — dubbed “Put Parents in Charge” — had only tepid support among Sanford’s fellow Republicans and hostile opposition from Democrats.

With the GOP holding a 74-50 majority, it would take only 12 Republicans voting against the bill to kill it, assuming all the Democrats opposed it.

The bill would give tax breaks to help parents pay tuition at private schools or a different public school.

Opponents say it is anti-public school and would drain money from the budget.

Supporters say competition from private schools would push public schools to improve.

House Majority Leader Jim Merrill, R-Charleston, said he can’t predict whether the bill he is co-sponsoring will pass the House.

“There are a number of members of the (Republican) caucus with different concerns,” said Merrill, whose brother, Denver Merrill, works for a grass-roots group promoting Put Parents in Charge.

The bill twice failed to make it out of a House committee last year. Denver Merrill’s group, South Carolinians for Responsible Government, tried — and failed — to revive it.

This year, the House GOP’s list of legislative goals does not include the bill, even though the list incorporated much of the rest of Sanford’s legislative agenda. Many of the governor’s other bills appear to be on the fast track.

Also, House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, the most powerful House member, has been ambivalent about the plan.

Wilkins said he supports the concept of school choice, but “some serious questions have been raised about the bill.”

Wilkins said he has not decided if the bill would be “a detriment to public education.” If he determines it won’t be, he said, he’ll vote for it.

Otherwise, he’ll vote against it, he said.

“I hate to admit it, but it’s a complicated issue,” he said. “I’m not going to blindly say I’m for it or against it.”

‘A BIG IDEA’

Sponsored by Rep. Doug Smith, R-Spartanburg, and 34 others, the proposal would allow parents with taxable incomes of $75,000 or less to take an income tax credit of up to 80 percent of about $4,000 the state spends annually per pupil in public schools.

The money could be used for private school tuition, public school transfer costs, or some home-school expenses.

The bill also would give income tax credits to people who donate money for private school scholarships.

In its fifth year, opponents say, the tax credit would sap $200 million from the $6 billion state budget.

Supporters argue the tax break would stimulate the economy. They also maintain the plan would have a minimal effect on how much state money goes to schools; they argue it could mean public schools would have more money per child to spend if lawmakers don’t reduce the overall school budget.

Put Parents in Charge is a “big idea,” said Sanford spokesman Will Folks. Any time you talk about a big idea, there are lots of questions, he said.

“We’re continuing to advance the merits of this bill,” he said, “not only how it would provide a way out for a whole lot of kids who need it, but (how) it would also improve public schools and give public school systems more money on a per-pupil basis.”

DEBATE POSSIBLE IN MARCH

Opponents say their message is getting through to lawmakers.

“This is one of the most dangerous bills we’ve had before us,” said Molly Spearman, executive director of the S.C. Association of School Administrators. “It’s abandoning a covenant our founding fathers made to provide a public education for everyone.”

Both sides have mobilized far-reaching grass-roots organizations to lobby lawmakers.

Tax-credit supporters have tapped home-schoolers, Christian school groups and parents who say they have had to scrape up scarce pennies to put special-needs children in private schools after public schools failed them.

Anti-tax-credit groups have reached out to teachers, local school boards and other state employees who might lose out if the tax credit were to siphon money from state coffers.

Many Republicans say they are waiting to be convinced the program won’t hurt schools or take money from other state programs.

Like other Republicans still on the fence, newly elected Rep. Nikki Haley, R-Lexington, likes the idea of giving parents more choices.

“My concern is ensuring that, after five years, we are not going back to the taxpayers to fund this bill,” she said.

Rep. Ted Pitts, another Lexington Republican, has stronger feelings.

“The way the governor’s proposal currently stands, I don’t support it,” he said, adding that most people in his district would prefer that he focus on other solutions for problem schools.

Others worry that if private schools begin accepting tuition paid for with public dollars, it could open up those schools to government regulation.

“I want to make sure this is not a vehicle for government to get into the private school business,” said Rep. Michael Thompson, R-Anderson.

But Rep. Alan Clemmons, R-Horry, a co-sponsor, said he is confident that if the bill passes, it will improve schools.

“I believe that competition is a good thing for South Carolina,” he said. “Certainly, doing things the way we’ve always done them before will keep us behind.”

Supporters have time to rally. House members will not debate the bill until at least March, after they finish work on the state budget. The bill has been assigned to the Ways and Means committee. Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, eventually will send it to a subcommittee for study.

Harrell said he plans to vote for the bill.

Members of South Carolinians for Responsible Government remain optimistic.

“We have 34 or 35 sponsors who are very supportive, and they’re going to be able to talk to those other legislators,” spokesman Denver Merrill said.

But opponents say they aren’t going to relax either.

“It’s almost like watching a hurricane off the coast,” said Scott Price, a lobbyist for the S.C. School Boards Association. “You’re monitoring it by the hour, and it seems to be moving and switching by the hour.

“We are prepared to take it on.”

Reach Talhelm at (803) 771-8339 or jtalhelm@thestate.com. Reach Gould Sheinin at (803) 771-8658 or asheinin@thestate.com.