East Central Reporter

In a May 16 news release, Rep. Adam Niemerg shared his concern about the potential expiration of the Invest in Kids program.

“All of us care about the education and well-being of underprivileged children and that is exactly who these scholarships help,” he wrote. “Ninety-seven hundred students received scholarships for the 2022-2023 school year and another 22,000 had to be wait-listed because the $75 million fund ran out.”

The Annie E. Casey Foundation reported approximately 438 thousand Illinois children live in poverty.

The Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program was created in 2017. It allows individuals and businesses a 75% income tax credit after they donate to qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations.

The National Association of Secondary School Principals noted students living in poverty face more challenges such as health issues, lack of food, and complete homework, to name a few.

WBEZ explains the program this way: "Under the Invest In Kids Act, taxpayers can donate to designated scholarship granting organizations around the state in exchange for a 75% income tax credit, capped at $75 million. Students from households making no more than 300% of the federal poverty level can apply. That’s $90,000 a year for a family of four. This school year, about two-thirds of scholarship recipients came from families earning no more than 185% of the federal poverty level. Scholarship organizations say the program is meant to serve lower-income students of color."

Vote Smart noted Niemerg has a strong voting record against education policies. Niemerg voted against requiring schools to send a notice to families if a student with a disability is removed from class and establishing a full-day kindergarten for all school districts.

Forbes has even focused on the program, reporting that "Tax credit scholarships create the illusion that taxpayers are not footing the voucher bill. But the Invest In Kids tax credits create a hole in the budget as large as $75 million; taxpayers either fill the gap by paying more or accepting cuts in services. Directly or indirectly, taxpayers pay the price for tax credit scholarships. The program was written to last only five years. It was then extended for one more year. In the interim, the usually blue state has replaced Bruce Rauner and his Scott Walker aspirations with Governor J. B. Pritzker, a Democrat who has aggressively positioned himself as the antithesis of GOP figures like Ron DeSantis (Pritzker calls him an “extremist”)." At the same time, the publication asked if the program should be allowed to continue while noting that “An analysis of Illinois Department of Revenue reports by Illinois Families for Public School found that 95% of the vouchers are used to attend a private religious school.”

Niemerg ran uncontested during the 2022 general election.

Niemerg was elected in 2020. He calls himself "a fiscal conservative focused on reducing taxes and fighting for limited government and pension reform to spur the growth of business and jobs in his district and all of Illinois. Niemerg is pro-life and he will protect Second Amendment rights."