To the Editor:
Comptroller Susana Mendoza recently argued in the Chicago Tribune that Illinois should participate in the receiving funds from the federal tax deduction for those who give $1,700 to scholarship granting organizations. I'm sorry, but Ms. Mendoza is just wrong on this, on multiple levels.
She is correct that, at the microlevel, if my child (if I have a child of school-age) is intending to use 'scholarship' or 'tutoring' funds, etc., then this is a good chance for my child should they enter the lottery to receive those funds. Indeed, if my child is already in private school and I can give this 'scholarship” organization $1,700, then this is a fabulous possibility at the micro-level (assuming we win the lottery for receiving funds).
At the meta-level (the state-level), this 'may' be a temporary fix in that the federal government will be “spending” those funds that will no longer go into our federal budget (thereby reducing federal spending by an equal amount). Instead, a few “non-profit grantors of opportunity' will receive those formerly federal dollars. At the state-level, we will not touch nor receive any of those “scholarship” dollars. The state treasury will not grow at all. The only way this would serve the state government's interest would be if the State decides to off-set those 'federal dollars' by cutting spending on Education at the state-level.
But most problematic, at the macro- level, this federal program is off-setting those tax write-offs by spending that much less on U.S. education. At the federal (macro-) level, there will be $1,700 fewer in our federal tax revenues for each person that 'donates.' That means many millions less going into our U.S. treasury because they are being diverted to the parents of children who are deemed worthy.
Most people do not benefit, and at some level, education writ-large will lose federal funding so the Republican party can give gifts to people who use private schools, private tutors, private (the list goes on). This is an unfair lottery system that privileges only the very few, with children in school, who win the lottery. It guarantees to cut into the federal budget and federal spending on education. The states do not benefit unless they simultaneously cut state appropriations at the statelevel.
This is an immoral proposition that privileges a few, directs public funds to private schools, and only benefits those who can afford to invest $1700 in the first place. Ms. Mendoza is just wrong. This bill discriminates intentionally.
Vote No.
Robert J. Hironimus-Wendt Sciota, IL
