THOUSANDS SET TO RALLY

FOR EDUCATION TAX CREDITS

            In a major show of strength, thousands are scheduled to converge on the state capital in Albany next week for a rally in support of education tax credits.

            “Momentum for education tax credits has never been stronger,” said James Cultrara, director of education for the New York State Catholic Conference. “This issue will be decided within a few weeks, so attendance at the rally is absolutely critical to its success.”

            The rally, sponsored by the New York State Coalition for Independent and Religious Schools, will begin at noon Tuesday, Feb. 14, in a park near the Capitol steps.  Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will lead a large delegation of parents, educators and students from Brooklyn and Queens.

            Governor George Pataki will address the rally, which will draw participants from across the state. In January he included in his Executive Budget a $500 per child education tax credit for children in underperforming school districts.

            The Catholic bishops of the state applauded the Governor’s “bold action” by proposing a tax credit for a variety of expenses, including tuition at independent and religious schools.

            Speakers at the rally will include two legislators from Brooklyn who have introduced a bill that would expand on the Governor’s proposal, Sen. Martin Golden of Bay Ridge and Assemblyman Vito Lopez of Williamsburg.

Their measure would provide refundable tax credits that range from up to $3,500 per child for families earning up to $40,000 to a credit of up to $1,100 per child for working middle-class families earning up to $150,000.

Brooklyn and Queens legislators listed as supporting the bill include Sen. Serphin Maltese and Assemblymen Joseph Lentol, William Colton, Steven Cymbrowitz, Jimmy Meng, Dov Hikind and William Boyland.

            Cardinal Edward Egan and Bishop DiMarzio will join Sen. Golden, Assemblyman Lopez and others at a late-morning press conference that day.

A pro-tax credit postcard campaign that began in the Brooklyn Diocese and spread to the other dioceses in the state produced close to 200,000 submissions by parents.  The postcards will be displayed at the press conference and presented to legislative leaders.

The Governor’s tax credit proposal must survive legislative action toward an agreement on the state budget that is due to be reached by March 31, the end of the fiscal year.

Mr. Cultrara said success in achieving a tax credit benefit “is going to depend in large part on how many parents and families show their support” by attending the rally.

Besides the State Catholic Conference, the bishops’ public policy arm, the rally sponsors are Agudath Israel of America, the Association of Christian Schools International, the Jewish Board of Education of Greater New York, the Lutheran Schools Association and the New York State Association of Independent Schools.

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2/7/06