The House of Representatives approved the bill by a 51-26 vote. The Senate approved the bill 22-11.

A very lop-sided vote indeed.

This is the most important part of the bill:

"...it will benefit students and families across Alabama regardless of their income and regardless of where they live,..."

Not based on income or race!

Sounds like the Republicans "Nancy Pelosied" the Dims. You Know:"...just pass the bill, you can read it later!..."

How long before a court strikes it down?

Sounds like the bill got a lot stronger in conference committee. It also sounds like the People of Alabama were well represented because the final votes in both houses were 2:1 in support. That means only the teachers unions and the administrators of failing schools were upset.

The BEST possible move to save the children of Alabama.

The Catholic and other private and religious schools are closing because parents cannot afford the tution any longer. Many because of the economy today. If we lose these schools the kids in many parts of the country will all be lost.

The cost of educating each student...on average...is one half of what our tax dollars are paying to send each child to public schools. The bulk of the money goes to administration in the public system...to teachers and kids in the private system.

In Chicago alone many wonderful bright 5 year olds...eager to learn, are actually going to be simply "housed" in gang recruitment centers for their first nine years of school life. Then SIXTY percent of them will not finish high school. Guess where they wind up?

Most parents don´t even have the option of Home Schooling because they lack the discipline and education themselves.

We have WONDERFUL public schools in this country; however, if you don´t live in an area that has one...your done.

And some Federal funding is based on the number of ´students´ in a school. So if public schools lose enough kids to private schools, the public school loses some of its funding. A two-for for a change. Kid gets better school and the crummy school gets less money.

There is less here than meets the eye. If you earn more 150% of the AL average income you are not eligible (at all) for the tax credit. Since the tax rate is five percent - but that is effectively reduced for dependents and credits for federal taxes - I guess the law would net the recipient at the most around $2000-2500 a year.

Still.

This bring a smile to my face! Not only because it is a great thing for kids but because it stuck it to the biggest union thugs in the state of Alabama, the AEA.

#8, there are online schools available that provide a ´homeroom´ teacher as well as science and math teachers for around $3000 - especially useful for parents who aren´t suited to participate in ´home schooling.

Most private schools educate students at a per capita rate 40 to 60 percent cheaper than public schools. The refunds these parents will be getting for hose who pay state income taxes at all may go a long way to making up what they need for their children to get what they pay for in the first place.

FTA: "I´ve never seen such sleaziness," Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, said.

Oh, I´d bet he´s well acquainted with real sleaziness.