Education Improvement Tax Cut Act

The Teacher Tax Cut Act is a bill initially introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) in 1999 and introduced in every Congressional session since. It would provide a $1,000 tax credit for all elementary and secondary teachers in the United States.

On February 15, 2007, Rep. Paul introduced the Act again in the House, this time with an initial three co-sponsors, Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI). The bill was designated H.R. 2257 and was referred to the Ways and Means Committee.cite web |url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2287|title= H.R. 2287: Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2007|accessdate= 2007-09-14|year= 2007|publisher= GovTrack] The bill has since gained two additional co-sponsors, Tom Feeney (R-FL) and Jeff Miller (R-FL).

ummary of bill

The bill says that it will "amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit for elementary and secondary school teachers."cite web |url= http://www.theorator.com/bills109/hr402.html|title= 109th CONGRESS|accessdate= 2007-09-14|publisher= TheOrator.com] . The tax credit would be $1,000 per teacher.

The tax credit would be given for donations to fund scholarships or for donations of cash or educational materials to any type of school or extra-curricular school activity.cite web |url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=1024|title= Schaffer Introduces Tuition Tax Credit Proposal|accessdate= 2007-09-14|year= 2002|work="School Reform News"|publisher= Heartland Institute]

History

Paul noted when introducing the bill originally that the state of Arizona had introduced similar tax credits, and the state found that it had increased resources available for education as a result.cite web |url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=10834|title= Federal Tax Credits Would Boost Educational Choice|accessdate= 2007-09-13|date= 2000-12-01|year= 2000|work="School Reform News"|publisher= Heartland Institute] He said, "The Arizona experience is further proof that putting control of education resources into the hands of the American people through education tax credits is the best way to improve education. Tax credits allow parents and other concerned citizens to devote more of their resources to education, and allow the American people to work with educators to ensure that all children have the opportunity to receive a quality education that suits each child's unique needs."cite web |url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=10834|title= Federal Tax Credits Would Boost Educational Choice|accessdate= 2007-09-13|date= 2000-12-01|year= 2000|work="School Reform News"|publisher= Heartland Institute]

The bill has been introduced in what Congressman Paul has described as the "Education Freedom Package," along with the Family Education Freedom Act, which would allow a $5,000 credit for school-related expenses at any public, private or home school, and the Teacher Tax Cut Act, which would allow a $1,000 tax deduction to be taken by all teachers.cite web |url= http://www.educationpolicy.org/newsletter/EEMar99.htm|title= Rep. Paul Introduces Education Package|accessdate= 2007-09-14|date= 1999-03|year= 1999|publisher= Education Exchange newsletter]

Paul has said of the bill, "This approach encourages parents to spend money to improve the school their child attends, rather than pay more in federal taxes to support distant education programs that reflect only the values and priorities of Congress and the federal bureaucracy."cite web |url= http://www.ocpathink.org/ViewPerspectiveEdition.asp?ID=64|title= Local Control Key to Education Reform|accessdate= 2007-09-14|year= 2000|publisher= Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs]

Past versions

Paul introduced this bill in other versions in other sessions of Congress.

*106th Congress: H.R. 936:The bill was introduced and co-sponsored by Bartlett, Michael Forbes (R/D-NY), Steve Largent (R-OK), Gary Miller (R-CA), and Charlie Norwood (R-GA). It was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.cite web |url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h106-936|title= H.R. 936 [106th] : Education Improvement Tax Cut Act|accessdate= 2007-09-14|publisher= GovTrack]
*107th Congress: H.R. 370 (2001) Introduced January 31, 2001:This version was co-sponsored by Bartlett, Norwood, John Duncan (R-TN), Mark Souder (R-IN), and Tom Tancredo (R-CO).cite web |url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h107-370|title= H.R. 370 [107th] : Education Improvement Tax Cut Act|accessdate= 2007-09-14|publisher= GovTrack]
*108th Congress: H.R. 611 (2003) :The bill was introduced February 5, 2003 with co-sponsorship from Bartlett, Norwood and Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO). It later gained a total of 10 co-sponsors, including Garrett, Sensenbrenner, Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Virginia Brown-Waite (R-FL), Nathan Deal (R-FL), Melissa Hart (R-PA), and Lee Terry (R-NE); it was referred to Ways and Means.cite web |url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h108-611|title= H.R. 611 [108th] : Education Improvement Tax Cut Act|accessdate= 2007-09-14|publisher= GovTrack]
*109th Congress: H.R. 402 (2005) :This version was initially co-sponsored by Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Jim Ryun (R-KA) and Lincoln Davis (R-TN) and eventually gained seven co-sponsors, including Luis Fortuño (Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico), Robert Simmons (R-CT) and Bobby Rush (D-IL).cite web |url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-402|title= H.R. 402 [109th] : Teacher Tax Cut Act of 2005|accessdate= 2007-09-14|publisher= GovTrack] It was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

References

External links

* [http://www.theorator.com/bills110/text/hr1057.html Education Improvement Tax Cut Act of 2007 Full text]
* [http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst97/tst072097.htm Paul's column on the Act]
* [http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul132.html One of Paul's speeches on the Act, in 2003]
* [http://www.ronpaullibrary.org/document.php?id=802 Paul's speech on the Act in 2001]