Education Choice and Tax Relief Bills Fail in House Committee

Before many Virginians had even finished their breakfasts Monday morning, a House sub-committee that met at 7:00 killed three bills backed by The Family Foundation and other conservative organizations that would have provided tax relief in the areas of education choice and the respect for life.

The bills, in the Republican controlled House Finance Sub-Committee #1, would have provided a refundable income tax credit for the parents of still born babies, who almost always face out of pocket burial expenses not covered by insurance (HB 100); an income tax deduction for public, private and homeschooled educators who incur expenses in professional development courses as well as for the supplies they regularly purchase for their students (HB 103); and a home instruction and private school tax credit for expenses or tuition for students attending an accredited private school (HB 784).

Each bill had several individual and organizational supporters while opponents were almost nonexistent, with the Virginia Education Association (the teachers union) basically alone in opposing the education bills, including, ironically, the bill to help teachers. It repeated the education establishment’s stale, and untrue, talking point that tax relief would drain money from public schools, which it said needs more hard earned tax dollars from Virginians.

HB 100, introduced by Delegate Chris Head (R-17, Roanoke), was defeated 4-4 despite Democrat Candi Mundon King’s (D-2, Dumfiries) enthusiastic crossover vote when Republicans Lee Ware (R-65, Powhatan) and sub-committee chairman Joe McNamara (R-8, Roanoke) voted no. HB 103, carried by Delegate Karen Greenhalgh (R-85, Virginia Beach), also died on a 4-4 vote with McNamara again crossing over. HB 784, introduced by Delegate Dave LaRock (R-33, Hamilton), died for a lack of a motion, even though there are five Republicans on the sub-committee. Another bill supported by The Family Foundation, HB 291, carried by Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-11, Roanoke) for a tax credit for family caregivers, was amended into a less desirable tax deduction and referred to the Appropriations Committee.

Despite these legislative defeats, there are several tax relief bills that will benefit families still to be considered, and supported by The Family Foundation, including the elimination of the grocery and hygiene tax, and the doubling of the standard deduction, both backed by the new Youngkin administration and carried by Delegate McNamara.