Murphy Leads Effort to NC General Assembly Urging an Override of Governor Stein’s Veto of School Choice Tax Credit Eligibility

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., alongside Representatives Richard Hudson (NC-09), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Mark Harris (NC-08), Addison McDowell (NC-06), and Tim Moore (NC-14), sent a letter to Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Destin Hall, and North Carolina Senate President Pro tempore, Phil Berger, urging the North Carolina General Assembly to override Governor Stein's veto of HB 87, the Educational Choice for Children Act, which would opt North Carolina into the first-of-its-kind federal scholarship tax credit program created by the Working Families Tax Cut passed by Congress this summer. 

"Through the Working Families Tax Cut, Congress created a new tax credit for donations to organizations that grant scholarships to students who wish to attend the school of their choice," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "Unfortunately, Governor Stein vetoed legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly, which would allow North Carolina and our students to participate in this new program. North Carolina students cannot be left behind by Governor Stein’s political games. The quality of a child's education should not be determined by their zip code, and North Carolina taxpayers deserve to be able to freely donate to Scholarship Granting Organizations in our state."

Background
The Working Families Tax Cuts created a $1,700 tax credit for individuals who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), non-profits that provide scholarships for eligible students to attend the qualified school of their choice. 

Because of complications with the Byrd Rule, the program was modified to require states to opt in. 

The North Carolina General Assembly passed HB 87, the Educational Choice for Children Act, making North Carolina the first state to enact legislation opting into the program.

Unfortunately, Governor Stein vetoed HB 87, putting North Carolina families at risk of losing access to these scholarships.

Read the letter here.