November 2010 – Washington, D.C.
Joseph Hepworth
The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments on 3 November 2010, in Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn on the constitutionality of an Arizona tax credit for donations to organizations that provide scholarships at private schools. The law allows the taxpayer to direct scholarship money to students attending religious schools. The case will determine if the tax credit program violates the US Constitution’s Establishment Clause, which, as applied to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment, prohibits states from endorsing or advancing religion. Opponents of the tax credit claim it is unconstitutional because taxpayers choose to direct more contributions to religious organization than nonreligious ones. A decision is expected next spring.