Pa. Legislators Override Veto of Charter-School Tax Break

The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday voted to override Gov. Ed Rendell’s veto of an education bill that would exempt nonprofit foundations from property taxes on holdings rented to charter schools, The Philadelphia Inquirer writes.

The Senate vote follows a similar move Monday by the state House, marking the first veto override in Gov. Rendell’s nearly eight years in office and guaranteeing that the bill will become law.

Legislators criticized Gov. Rendell for rejecting a measure that contained a long list of initiatives, including some tackling violence in schools, over a single provision. The governor said the targeted tax break was unconstitutional and could prompt commercial landlords to convert to charity status for the tax advantage.