“Back door voucher” earns its name

by David Safier
Supporters of private school tuition tax credits can get a little testy when you call the credits "vouchers," "back door vouchers" or, as they're referred to in the title of a recently published book, "neovouchers." Supporters know that's what they are, but they also know vouchers have been ruled unconstitutional in many states, and polls always show the public is against them. They want to build a sturdy semantic wall to separate credits from vouchers.

But I don't know what else you can call the new tax credit legislation being talked about by R legislators. The idea is to boost the amount of money that can go for tax credits so disabled students and students in foster homes can attend private schools on the taxpayers' dime.

These children were getting vouchers until the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that unconstitutional. "So," the Rs say, "if we can't give them vouchers through the front door, let's sneak the vouchers through the back door."

Back door vouchers. That's what they are, pure and simple. If the term fits, wear it!