This is the Cato Daily Podcast for Wednesday, September 26, 2007.

I'm Caleb Brown.

Many states have pursued education vouchers in spite of state constitutions that prohibit public funds supporting private education.

Cato Policy analyst Adam Schaefer argues that education tax credits often pass constitutional muster where

vouchers fail.

States have held out hope that school vouchers would withstand various constitutional challenges, but the record is spotty.

As to education tax credits, the record is much better. What's the difference?

The difference comes down to the fact that

vouchers are government funds. The government sends a check to a family that

family uses the voucher to go to a school of their choice.

Tax credits, essentially you're just keeping your own money

instead of sending it into the state for taxes.

You spend it on tuition or transportation or books,

some form of education spending.

And so because it's your own personal money, it doesn't run afoul of a lot of state constitutional

provisions.

The Blaine Amendment is the biggest concern.

It's an anti-Catholic amendment that prevents public funds from going to sectarian institutions.

Basically, it would turn to the century, they wanted to make sure that

Catholic schools and other religious schools that they didn't approve of wouldn't

get any public funds, any help with textbooks or anything like that.

There are other clauses, compelled support clauses do

...