COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A national advocacy group is investigating Ohio after claiming the state’s use of taxpayer dollars to fund private, Christian school renovations is unconstitutional.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State allege the one-time payments, totaling nearly $4 million among eight schools , violate the Ohio and U.S. Constitutions. The nonpartisan organization announced its investigation on Oct. 3 and has given the state until Friday to respond and fulfill its request for public records surrounding the funding.
The investigation concerns money allotted as part of the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund, a part of the capital budget passed this summer. Senate Republicans spokesperson John Fortney said the grants benefited organizations that typically would not be eligible to receive state funding…