Gov. Rendell on Friday vetoed a comprehensive education bill that he said gave an unfair tax break to charter-school landlords - a move that blindsided and outraged some legislators and advocates of the measure.
The provision would have exempted nonprofit foundations that rent property to charter schools, and let them apply the tax break retroactively.
But the governor's veto took down with it a wider law that included about 20 other initiatives - among them, ones to combat student violence, make textbooks more affordable, and improve financial literacy.
"I support many of the initiatives included in this legislation, so withholding my signature is not easy," Rendell said Friday. "But this bill does not meet the threshold of constitutionality or basic fairness."
Every senator and 180 of 203 House members voted for the bill. Criticism of the veto came from members of both parties.
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