I've been covering the Republic's Jihad against the Private School Tax Credits and in early February I listedt the 28 articles that made up the Republic's most recent barrage. The articles appear to have been timed to raise the maximum doubt about the program during the critical year-end fund raising period.
Indeed, contributions were down for the first time this year and the Republic acknowledges that its coverage is part of the reason.
The weak economy and a series of investigative reports in The Arizona Republic and East Valley Tribune likely contributed to the first declines ever in the 12-year-old program, executives with the school-tuition organizations said.
And which organization was the biggest loser...?
The Catholic Tuition Organization for the Diocese of Phoenix reported the steepest drop in total amount of scholarships: $1 million, or 9.7 percent, from 2008 to 2009. Its donations dropped $612,000, a 6 percent decline.
In light of my previous post about Randy Lovely and Michael Clancy's disdain for the current leadership of the local Catholic Diocese, the damage shouldn't surprise you.
Lutheran schools have affected as well, and the lost of revenue from the decline in tuition tax credit contributions may cost my mom her job as a Christian school teacher.
I think ending the printing of government notices in the back of the newspapers in favor of notices on-line is good public policy. However, given how these biased news stories on tuition tax credits are adversely affecting my dear mom, the opportunity to deprive the Arizona Republic and East Valley Tribune of a taxpayer funded revenue source appeals to me too.
Call your State Legislators. Tell them no more taxpayer subsidies for newspapers in the form of government notices in the back of newspapers!
Posted by: Bill | March 15, 2010 at 06:37 PM
When facts don't support your opinion then it does not mean there is bias. It means that your opinion is just that...opinion. Sorry about your mom, Bill. If she is a good teachwer than there will be a job for her. On the other hand, Rep. Yarborough has made over $700,000 last year from salary and services. Check the 990...that's a fact Jack!
Posted by: RsSuck | March 15, 2010 at 10:47 PM
Well seeing as the previous leadership of the Diocese consisted of Thomas O'Brien and Dale Fushek, the Republic will have a hard time convincing people their disdain is justified.
Posted by: Winnie | March 16, 2010 at 12:56 AM
Bishop O'Brien has been gone for over 6 years and Fushek has been removed as a priest and formally defrocked. Both tuition tax credits and the Catholic schools provide a real benefit to the state. The increased cost to the State in teaching all the students now attending private schools would make tuition tax credits seem like such a bargain - and they are. Giving parents both choice and opportunities is extremely important to the success of a program.
But the anti-Catholic bias of the Republic makes an honest story impossible.
Posted by: John Jakubczyk | March 16, 2010 at 03:32 AM
John
The facts show that most of the scholarships are just helping people who would have been enrolled anyway. Private school enrollment has lagged public school enrollment by a large margin since the STO debacle was started (FACT). There is no accountability with the STOs (FACT). The corporate tax credit program with a means test and the requirement to be in a public school prior to using the money can not get rid of their loot (FACT).
Posted by: RsSuck | March 16, 2010 at 09:38 AM
Former Monsignor, Dale Fusek will never go on trial. The Maricopa County prosecutors offices has offered him a plea bargain of pleading guilty to assault. He has refused because he is innocent of these charges. The original two prosecutors assigned to the case, said "there is no case here."
New prosecutors were brought in, perhaps because of the political gains to be made in the case. The key witness in the case has a history of living off of lawsuits and there is a multimullion dollar payday awaiting this case.
Fusek was stripped of his status in the church, not because of the case but becausee of his insistence in conducting church services during his suspension.
The Arizona Republic played this up completely out of context.
The key lurid scene which the Republic has repeated over and over, never took place.
Posted by: Falcon 9 | March 16, 2010 at 01:31 PM
Why, with all the problems we have, is the Republic so into hitting these credits?
Why not push for district consolidation? That gives more money to teachers!
Why all the Catholic hate? Nail the pedphiles and let the good guys preach away.
Geez.
Posted by: Jim Torgeson | March 16, 2010 at 02:26 PM
It's not Catholic hate.It's about giving tax credits to the rich people who can afford to send their kids to private schools without any government help. Why is it that the same people who always scream that they want less government in their lives, still want government in their lives when it pads their wallets.
Posted by: foxfan | March 16, 2010 at 05:52 PM
Why not even the field and just let everyone have a voucher for their kids education? Why should I pay twice for my kidos education?
Then we could get rid of the STO's (and the teachers' unions). Sounds like a plan to me.
Posted by: Blackbird03 | March 16, 2010 at 07:33 PM
RsSuck,
Can you provide a link to the Form 990? I just googled it found only the summary on charitynavigator.org. It lists direct compensation of $96,000 (in 2007). Total admin and fundraising expenses were $736,000 (6.4%). Certainly there were actual expenses beyond rent ACSTO paid to Yarborough and compensation paid to himself by HY processing. Do you have those numbers? Thanks.
Posted by: Ken | March 17, 2010 at 02:12 AM
Check this out Ken. It's well laid out.
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/ethics-101/Content?oid=1193245
Posted by: RsSuck | March 17, 2010 at 09:59 PM
Sleep Human,supply ordinary nation approach relative description after since phone address tonight so effectively tax sequence big specific king book soft address early vary attract rather represent size argument behaviour cut whilst iron afternoon consist instead well any line evening new potential opportunity stop ministry observation small attempt form contact deliver minister before implication noise coffee relevant instead end wood declare object carefully estimate round almost building complex combination sir factory their settlement generation over throughout upper team certain move possible tax collection world piece asset run actual emerge order river respect winner risk
Posted by: Singles sachsen anhalt | March 31, 2010 at 11:05 AM