COLUMBIA, S.C. - A proposal to give tax breaks to parents paying private school tuition passed a House subcommittee during a hastily called meeting Thursday, a day after supporters and opponents spoke for hours at a public hearing on the bill.

The legislation passed without amendment on a 3-2 vote, split along party lines. The meeting was called after the House adjourned in the morning. The bill now heads to the full Ways and Means Committee.

The legislation - dubbed Put Parents in Charge - would allow parents whose children transfer from public schools to independent schools, home schooling or other public schools to receive a tax credit. Based on this year's state budget, the tax credit would be about $2,000 per child in the fall.

Subcommittee members heard public comment in a crowded room on the Statehouse grounds Wednesday from more than 30 people, including Gov. Mark Sanford and Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum, who opposes the bill.

The bill is a key part of Sanford's legislative agenda. "It's something we certainly hope continues to move forward through the process and the governor will continue to push for it," Sanford spokesman Will Folks said Thursday.

Lawmakers also heard from a few parents at Wednesday's hearing.

"A lot of folks on both sides have strong feelings about it," said Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston, one of three of the bill sponsors who backed the bill. "But one thing's for certain in South Carolina, our educational system is not serving our students or our parents currently. This measure is just an effort to place market reforms in education."

On Wednesday, Hollie Bennett, whose has three children in Rock Hill public schools, told legislators that the school "are failing in educating our children because we do not address the individuality of student learning."

"Public schools are accountable to the government," Bennett said. "And this has gotten us where? Last, that's where."

Another parent, Leni Patterson, who also is a school board member in Laurens County, said the bill would take money away from public education.

"In our public schools, we teach citizenship," Patterson said. "We teach what it means to be one part contributing to the whole of society. We don't teach them that if they don't like part of government, then they shouldn't have to pay for that service."

Subcommittee chairman Shirley Hinson, R-Goose Creek, and Rep. James McGee, R-Florence, joined Limehouse in voting for the bill, while Democratic Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg voted against it and Rep. Alex Harvin of Summerton was not present but sent a letter saying he intended to vote against the bill.

"We're very disappointed that the subcommittee has taken this action," Tenenbaum said Thursday. "It's a very bad piece of legislation that would have dramatic effects on the funding of education in South Carolina.

"We hope that we can stop this in the full Ways and Means Committee and are working very hard to try to stop it."

Subcommittee members said they expected several amendments to be added to the legislation once it moves to full committee.

McGee was considering an amendment that would limit the credit to parents whose children transfer from failing or unsatisfactory schools. Limehouse was considering one that would allow all parents to get a tax break, not just those who make less than $75,000 in taxable income.

Cobb-Hunter was considering amendments, including one to require private schools to meet similar standards for public schools laid out in the Education Accountability Act.

"I am still very much opposed to the legislation, but will offer amendments in committee addressing some of the glaring holes in this bill - like the lack of accountability," Cobb-Hunter said.