Following is a statement by Dennis Poust, executive director of the New York State Catholic Conference, on Governor Kathy Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal:

“Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement that she intends to opt in to the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit is welcome news for hundreds of thousands of New York children and their parents, who struggle daily to afford their educational expenses. We are grateful to the Governor for her leadership in committing to allowing our state’s children to benefit from this federal program, absent any unexpected poison pills in regulations currently under development.

“This new $1,700 tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs) will help public school families afford such critical needs as after-school programs and technology, tutoring and special education services, and transportation and uniforms. In addition, it will open new scholarship opportunities for children whose parents have chosen a religious or independent school.

“Governor Hochul clearly recognizes the value of a diverse education landscape that allows parents, regardless of their income, to direct the education of their children. This new credit will address the affordability gap by driving potentially billions of dollars of investments in education in New York that otherwise would have gone to Washington. And it won’t take a single dollar from our state’s incredibly important public school system.

“The Bishops of New York State look forward to the day they can celebrate the Governor’s formal announcement that she has opted in to the program and opened up new educational opportunities for the children of our great state.”

The New York State Catholic Conference represents the bishops of the state in working with government to shape laws and policies that pursue social justice, respect for life, and the common good.