Tax break credited to Jindal

• By WILL SENTELL
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Mar 18, 2008 - Page: 10A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Support from Gov. Bobby Jindal is the key reason that an often-debated tax break for private and university lab school students and others will become law, backers and opponents said Monday.

Danny Loar, executive director of Louisiana Citizens for Educational Choice, said it is easy to pinpoint what made the difference this time.

“Two words: Bobby Jindal,” Loar said.

“Frankly, we never had that level of support before,” he added.

Loar’s group represents all of the state’s 188 Catholic schools and 25 Protestant schools.

The tuition tax break, Senate Bill 5, won approval Friday during the final day of the special session. Jindal said last week he would likely sign SB5 into law.

A similar measure passed the Legislature last year but was vetoed by former Gov. Kathleen Blanco.

A wide range of other bills that would have provided state aid to private and parochial schools have failed for 40
years.

Under this year’s bill, parents would be able to deduct 50 percent on their state tax returns on what they pay for private or university lab school tuition, up to $5,000 per student.

That means families in the state’s top tax bracket would be eligible for savings of $300 per child who attend elementary or secondary schools.

East Baton Rouge Parish has 19,761 students enrolled in nonpublic schools, which is the second highest in the state.

About 127,000 students attend such schools statewide.

The bill that won final approval on Friday includes a similar tax break for the 13,479 students who attend school at home.