New York Catholic Conference defends education tax credit, condemns bill restricting participation

The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents the bishops of the state in public policy matters, is criticizing legislation that would restrict the governor’s authority to decide whether the state participates in the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC), a new federal program that helps taxpayers fund scholarships to make education more affordable for families.

In a Nov. 10 statement, Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, condemned a bill introduced by Democratic state Sen. John Liu that would give the state Board of Regents, rather than the governor, authority to decide whether New York participates in the program and which scholarship-granting organizations qualify beginning in 2028.

“Senator Liu’s bill attempts to rig the system against parents across our state to appease the leadership of the powerful public school teachers unions, who contribute big money to his political machine,” Poust said.

Beginning in January 2027, the program will allow taxpayers to redirect a portion of their federal income taxes toward scholarships covering educational expenses, including Catholic school tuition, tutoring, and after-school programs.

Poust described Liu’s bill as a betrayal of his party leader and his constituents in Queens. 

“The working-class citizens of Flushing, Bayside, and Fresh Meadows are counting on the scholarship funds to help them afford after-school programs, tutoring, special education services, and computer hardware for their children in public schools, as well as tuition for those kids in his district’s Catholic and other nonpublic schools,” Poust said. 

He also criticized the state senator’s framing of the EFTC, which he said is a misunderstanding of how the credit works. Poust said Liu “incorrectly and dismissively calls” the credit a “voucher.” 

“It is anything but that,” Poust continued. “The tax credit program does not divert a single dollar from city, state or federal public school funding.”

Poust further emphasized how the EFTC could help students across the state.

“It simply allows taxpayers to take a portion of the income tax they would otherwise be paying to the IRS and re-direct it to help kids in the public and nonpublic schools in his district,” he said. “It’s literally free money to support public and nonpublic education.”

Poust also noted that if state officials chose not to participate in the program, New Yorkers could still participate in the tax credit by supporting scholarships in other states.

Poust cited Gov. Kathy Hochul’s support for participating in the program, recalling her statement: “I’m not going to leave money on the table if it will help our kids.”

Poust concluded, “In this matter, Governor Hochul has it exactly right, and Senator Liu is dead wrong.”