Ehrhart seeks $100 million for scholarship tax credits

The father of a tuition tax credit program wants to nearly double the state money available for it.

Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, has introduced House Bill 759, which would increase the pool available for tax credits to $100 million, from $58 million.

The tax-credit program was started in 2008. Taxpayers can qualify for the credit through donations to student scholarship organizations that help public school students afford the switch to private school.

Not everyone is as enamored with the program. Last year, Gov. Nathan Deal supported Senate Bill 243, which capped the fund at $50 million and required scholarship recipients to attend a public school for at least six weeks before they can transfer to a private school and be eligible for a scholarship through the tax-credit program. Critics of the program say it's been abused, with some students receiving scholarship aid who never attended a public school.

SB 243 passed the Senate unanimously, but never got a vote in the House.

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Aaron Gould Sheinin

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