Written by Don Byrd
An op-ed in today’s USAToday discusses how a handful of school voucher programs continue to provide taxpayer funds to private schools, particularly religious schools, despite the clear voice of the American people at the ballot box against the idea.
From 1966 through 2007, voters rejected vouchers or their variants by about 2 to 1 in 27 statewide referendums. The most recent was in Utah, where more than 60% of voters in November 2007 said no to the most comprehensive voucher program in the country up to that time. This outcome came even after the plan passed both houses of the state legislature and was signed by the governor.
Realizing that putting the issue to voters once again would be futile, reformers devised a clever strategy in the form of scholarship programs. So far, these programs have been working smoothly because combining personal-use and donation credits are less controversial than parental choice programs.
Meanwhile, a congressional candidate in New York argues that somehow the high cost of a religious education demands taxpayer support.
In other voucher news, AU reports that a New Jersey scheme is going nowhere this year.
