For the past six years, those who want to privatize our schools have been trying to pass legislation that would use taxpayer dollars to fund private and religious school tuition. And their efforts were frustrated time and time again.
The latest attempt was a tax credit that resulted in $50 million in lost revenue for the state. Fortunately, the bill advanced to the House Ways and Means Committee last week by a 10-7 vote.
The bill was defeated despite out-of-state pro-voucher lobbyists putting unprecedented pressure on committee members and even sending fliers to at least one member's district. Even after House leaders realized they couldn't get enough votes for the bill and placed additional pro-voucher lawmakers on committees, it lost.
Despite these setbacks, those seeking to privatize education reportedly plan to return with the Education Savings Accounts (ESA) bill, which would work like a credit card for parents to pay for private and religious school tuition. The bill died last year due to lack of support in the House Education Committee.
But this time, legislative leaders won't risk another defeat. They reportedly plan to run the ESA bill through one of their voucher advocacy committees. But that's not all they do to ensure success after numerous failures.
There's talk on Capitol Hill that lawmakers plan to hold Gov. Brad Little's popular Idaho launch funding bill hostage until he agrees to enact the ESA bill into law. there is. In other words, if Little gives them private school or religious school tuition, he will also provide funds for launching.
The release funds were approved by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on February 23, but were not given a bill number or assigned to the legislative calendar for consideration. But that could change this week, as JFAC co-chair and pro-ESA lawmaker Wendy Horman decides to make it public.
But the fact that it's been stalled for three weeks is a clear sign that legislative leaders and pro-ESA lobbyists are sending the governor a message: Let's make a deal.
But there is no reason why Governor Little should agree to this political compensation. The repeated rejection of voucher-type legislation over the past six years shows there is strong support for taxpayer-funded tuition at private and religious schools.
Moreover, out-of-state vouchers are rumored to only subsidize students who have never attended public school, divert funds from nearby schools, and impose significant costs on taxpayers.
Holding the launch pad hostage is not good politics, even for privatization legislators. Idaho Launch is one of the most popular programs in years. Nearly 14,000 Idaho high school seniors applied for a Launch Grant after graduation this year.
And it's popular for good reason. Launch grants will change students' lives for the better, helping them earn higher education credentials that lead to good careers. The business community strongly supports Launch because it will help build the skilled, educated workforce Idaho needs.
Due to its popularity, hundreds of students from all 35 legislative districts applied for grants. For example, in House Speaker Mike Moyle's district, 560 students applied. In District 32, represented by Rep. Horman, a key supporter of voucher legislation, 442 students applied. And we are continuing to accept applications until mid-April.
In an election year, you don't want to be the candidate who prevents hundreds of young voters from getting the education they need for a good career and a secure future. Especially when behind every student are parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends known as voters.
It is time for legislative leaders to abandon their fanciful campaign to privatize our schools. And now it's past time to quickly pass the Idaho Launch funds and get the campaign started. For them, it's a better political strategy than holding the governor and his popular programs hostage.
More importantly, this is the right thing to do for Idaho’s students, employers, and taxpayers.