Arkansas Panel Rejects Private School Tax Credit Bill

A proposal to offer a 100 percent state tax credit for donations to a scholarship fund for private schools has failed to clear an Arkansas Senate committee.

The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee on Wednesday rejected the tax credit proposal on a voice vote, with the measure appearing to receive only three "yes" votes and two "no's" from the eight-member panel.

The proposal by Republican Sen. Jane English of North Little Rock would grant taxpayers a credit for contributions to a nonprofit that would award private school scholarships to families making 250 percent or less of the federal poverty level.

The credit would be capped at a total of $10 million a year, a revenue loss that state finance officials said the state couldn't afford.