TAX BREAK FOR PRIVATE-SCHOOL TUITION IS NEEDED

It's the final week of the legislative session, and the political rhetoric is getting old. Legislators need to cut to the quick to make sure key bills earn final approval. One issue that shouldn't get lost in the banter is a tax break for parents who send their students to private and parochial schools.

This tax break is a first step in educational freedom for Missouri parents.

Lawmakers are scrambling for ways to cut taxes, a direct benefit to taxpayers thanks to the Hancock Amendment that caps growth in Missouri's tax revenue. The proposed legislation would allow parents of both public and private high school students to deduct tuition, school supplies or transportation costs for up to $2,500 for each dependent child. But parents of children attending private and parochial schools would benefit the most because they could deduct the tuition they pay.

It's really an issue of fairness. Parents with children in private or parochial schools also pay taxes to support public schools.

Gov. Mel Carnahan has threatened to veto the whole package of tax cuts if the private school break is included. So be it. If he really does veto the plan, the issue will be squarely in the governor's lap. The governor -- and the governor alone -- will take the heat from unhappy parents.

The governor is wrong in characterizing this issue as a private agenda. Hundreds of thousands of parents from all walks of life have chosen private or parochial education for their children. Some of the choice may be due to the limits placed on public education in terms of prayer and other religious freedoms. Others are simply unhappy with the state of public education. Whatever the reason, these parents deserve a break.

No tax money would be spent on parochial and private schools. Besides, if taxpayers can already deduct contributions to churches, expanding that deduction for parochial school tuition only seems to follow.

This deduction affects only a minimal portion of public school revenue. Missouri spends up to $3.5 billion a year on public education. The tax deduction would mean $4 million to $5 million less in state revenue.

The Legislature should take the lead on this issue and include the private school deduction in the tax reduction package it sends to the governor. Lawmakers need to go on record supporting this long-overdue tax break.