Tuition tax credit debate goes on

A new round of debate over tuition tax credits for private and parochial school students started here as the Senate finance committee grilled top level Reagan administration officials about the plan, Monitor correspondent Clara Germani reports.

Concerns voiced at Friday's hearing include: whether the plan would aid schools that discriminate on the basis of race; and whether the credit would help middle income and ignore low income citizens.

Testifying at the hearing, Treasury Secretary Donald Regan said the only weapon against discrimination is for school officials to admit to it. Mr. Regan discounted suggestions that a refund be offered to those who cannot benefit from a tax credit because they don't pay taxes, saying the plan was aimed at helping families who do pay taxes to send their children to the school of their choice.