This approach has several
advantages over vouchers funded out of the federal budget: no existing federal money expected by
school districts would be affected; no state money would be involved, thus avoiding legal conflicts with constitutional provisions that bar the use of state and local money for religious
schools in 37 states; and, as a pure federal initiative, state laws and tax codes would remain unaffected.
Describing Indiana's heavily regulated
voucher program, Schaeffer writes: «Because participating
schools will have a significant financial
advantage over non-participating
schools, lightly regulated [non-participating]
schools will face increasing financial pressure to participate.»