Sen. John Kennedy introduces a bill that would double the maximum that teachers can deduct from their taxable income for spending their own money on school supplies.
“Right now, a single teacher can deduct up to — depending upon the amount spent — $300 for classroom supplies that she or he buys personally and is not reimbursed for,” says Sen. Kennedy. “My bill would double that to $600.”
Kennedy says teachers spending their own money on school supplies is unfortunately very common.
“Unfortunately, many of our teachers do have to go out of pocket to buy classroom supplies,” Kennedy says, “so the least we can do is let them deduct it from their income tax.
Kennedy says it’s a shame that he would have to propose such a bill in the first place.
“I would like to live in a world where teachers don’t have to come out of pocket to buy classroom supplies or anything,” Kennedy says. “And if it was up to me, I would give then an unlimited deduction.”
Kennedy acknowledges that his bill will go nowhere in the current Congress, because time is almost up.
“I introduced it this Congress, even though this Congress ends in a few weeks, just to get a head start,” Kennedy reasons. “I’ll reintroduce it in the new Congress.”
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