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Article published Apr 3, 2004
Bill
would give tax credits to teachers
GENEVIEVE WONG
Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON -- South Carolina Reps.
Jim DeMint and Gresham Barrett have proposed the "National Education Advancement
and Teacher Relief Act," a bill that reimburses teachers for out-of-pocket
education expenses through tax credits. The legislation would give teachers in
private, public and home schools a tax credit up to $500."The fact that so many
teachers spend hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets for education
expenses is a sign of their professionalism and dedication to our children,"
DeMint said in a statement. "Congress needs to honor our teachers' commitment by
committing to a plan to reimburse them for their out-of-pocket expenses."The
legislation, co-sponsored by Reps. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., and Pete Hoekstra,
R-Mich., calls for teachers to be reimbursed for 75 percent of what they spend.
A teacher who spends $200 of his own money for classroom supplies, for example,
would be eligible for a $150 credit.Nicole Brown, a teacher at Moore's Anderson
Mill Elementary School, sees the bill as a good way to compensate teachers.
Brown estimates that she spends about $200 a year on learning aids and
supplies."This will definitely benefit first-year teachers, because they have to
start with nothing," the third-grade teacher said.Brown started with a
$100stipend when she assumed her current job. But, she was not provided a
starting stipend at her first job at Macedonia Elementary in the Barnwell School
District.Brown adds that her school compensates her for purchases, but she has
access to more supplies now than she did at Macedonia."I wouldn't say that
either school I've worked at had a shortage, but here I get more manipulatives,
more science kits and hands-on things."The bill also would encourage donations
to schools or tuition organizations. Individuals would be allowed to receive a
credit of up to $500, while corporations would be allowed to receive a credit up
to $100,000. The credit would not be subject to the Alternative Minimum
tax."Teachers, parents and local business should be able to invest in education
without having to send their tax dollars to Washington first," DeMint said.Tom
Kiley, a spokesman for Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the ranking member of the
Education Workforce Committee, said that the bill has mixed motives."Part of the
problem is that people can make donations to tuition organizations or places
where people get school vouchers to private schools. You're using public money
to support private school vouchers and that's not right," Kiley said.The tax
deduction for teachers who spent their own funds on classroom expenses expired
in January. The new legislation, if passed, would reinstate the teacher
provision, but replace the tax deduction with a tax credit, giving teachers a
bigger tax break. Similar legislation passed in Arizona, Pennsylvania and
Florida.The "NEA and Teacher Relief Act" is now in the House Education and
Workforce Committee.