AZ Supremes vs. 9th Circuit on tax credits

by David Safier

It's something of a standoff. On the one hand,

The state's high court on Tuesday upheld a 3-year-old law that lets corporations divert some of their state income taxes to help students attend private and parochial schools.

Without comment, the Arizona Supreme Court rejected arguments by the Arizona Education Association and other foes of the law they say amounts to the state providing illegal aid to these schools. The justices also apparently were unswayed by arguments that the law amounts to the state advancing religion, as most of the dollars collected end up in the coffers of parochial schools.

On the other hand,

Last week the full 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that groups challenging the credits on federal constitutional grounds have the right to make their case in court. Unless overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, that decision paves the way for a federal trial.

Around and around she goes. Where she stops, nobody knows.