Under House Bill 205, Kentucky residents would be able to receive tax breaks by donating to the scholarship programs of private schools, including religious schools. The money would then go toward tuition assistance for students at those schools. With $25 million available in tax credits, residents would receive tax breaks equal to the amount they donated, up to $1 million.
Sponsored by Rep. John Carney (R), the bill was introduced on Feb. 5. On Monday, Carney said the legislation faced an uphill battle, acknowledging it would likely not receive the votes it needs to pass, according to Lexington Herald Leader.
Rep. Wayne argued that Catholic schools are often unequipped to accept children with special needs and that "only the public school system can include all children."
"A hallmark of Catholic social teaching is the responsibility to assess every public policy through this lens: How will the policy affect the poor? If the poor are hurt, the policy is immoral," he said, writing in the Courier Journal.
Wayne said he disagrees with taking money away from the state's public school system. He also argued that the bill would violate the principle of separation of church and state.
Archbishop Kurtz disagreed that the policy will harm the poor and is therefore incompatible with Catholic teaching. Because it is mandated in Kentucky that more than half of the aid will support students with high financial needs, he said, the money will go to "families whose incomes are below the reduced-lunch threshold, students with special needs and students within Kentucky's foster care system."