Originally published by JP Updates
Despite Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal, the New York State Assembly decided they would not be including the Education Investment Tax Credit (EITC) in its one-house 2015-2016 state budget proposal.
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Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, one of the leading Orthodox Jewish assemblymembers who helped Carl Heastie win the race for speaker last month, on Thursday blasted the decision as a blow to struggling families burdened by rising tuition costs and pledged to oppose the final budget as long as EITC was excluded.
“I am deeply disappointed that the legislature has failed to include the Education Investment Tax Credit (EITC) in this year’s budget proposal and provide our families with the resources we need to grow and prosper, ” Goldfeder said. “I will oppose the final budget until every single family in this state has equal access to affordable, quality education in their community.”
The Education Investment Tax Credit would provide tax credits for donations made to scholarship organizations serving public and private schools. In addition, educational funds and instructional materials would also be eligible for credit. Under the proposal, the state would contribute $100 million dollars to provide for the subsidy. This would provide an unprecedented level of funding for non-public schools and increased tuition assistance for students state-wide.
At a community event hosted by Assemblyman Dov Hikind last month Assembly Speaker Heastie voiced support for the bill, promising that the “EITC is on the table.”
Goldfeder recently introduced legislation to include Yeshivos among state-mandated customers of the New York Power Authority, thereby substantially lowering their utility costs. As the parent of two young children in non-public schools, Goldfeder credited his own family experiences for driving his support for EITC. “I was born and raised in Far Rockaway and now my wife and I are raising our two children here. I know that providing for quality, affordable education in the community is key to our children’s success, ” he stated. “The EITC is a common sense plan to encourage investment in Education without removing a single penny from our public schools.”
