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| NYSUT: Senate voucher proposal just wrong Feb. 28, 2006 New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi today expressed strong dismay over the State Senate majority's decision to include a tuition credit proposal as part of its 2006-07 tax cut package. Including a revenue expenditure for tuition to private and religious schools shows a real lack of understanding of the implications of this proposal, Iannuzzi said. "This is not a tax cut," Iannuzzi said. "It's a gift to the parents of private and religious school students – a gift paid for with tax dollars. The Senate's proposal would drive up local property taxes across the state by diverting public funds to private schools. "Every dollar spent on vouchers is another dollar local property taxpayers have to pay," Iannuzzi said. "The Senate claims to be concerned about creating jobs and holding the line on taxes, yet this piece of the proposal would drive up local taxes and drive away business." Iannuzzi said NYSUT was particularly concerned that this proposal ignores students in high-need districts. "This proposal does absolutely nothing to help public school students in low-income communities both rural and urban," Iannuzzi said. "It doesn't target aid to those students and those schools that need the most help. In fact, it completely ignores the court-mandated remedy in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit." He added that taxpayers should be concerned about the lack of accountability that would result from sending tax dollars to private and religious schools, which are not subject to the same level of transparency and reporting requirements that public schools face. Iannuzzi also noted that private and religious schools have the option of rejecting students with learning or physical disabilities, and students who are struggling academically, while public schools are open to all students. "Every parent of a public school student and every property taxpayer in New York state should pick up the phone and call their senator. This is wrong for taxpayers, wrong for public schools and, most tragically, wrong for the vast majority of students," he said. NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 525,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. |
CONTACT: NYSUT Media Relations and Communications. (518) 213-6000, Ext. 6313. E-Mail: mediarel@nysutmail.org. |
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