Win for Bush, TBRC approves school vouchers

Former Gov. Jeb Bush and school vouchers advocates scored a major victory this morning, when the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission approved a ballot proposal that would enshrine voucher protections in the state Constitution.

The plan addresses part of the constitution calling for a uniform system of free public schools and is part of a two-pronged effort to redeem Bush's Opportunity Scholarships. It had been defeated at an April 4 meeting but resurfaced through some procedural maneuvering that helped gain support for the property tax swap.

The vote was 19-6. Among the supporters: former Sen. John McKay, who was one of the opponents earlier this month. But McKay needed others to go along with his tax swap.

Advocates say increased competition will improve education for all students. "We are entering a time of global competition and we have to arm ourselves, our workforce and our students with the best possible education," commissioner Julia Johnson said.

But critics said the plan creates a mandate for public funding of private schools and said it could actually hurt existing programs that receive taxpayer support.

"Be careful what you ask for," said commissioner Les Miller.  "If you pass this, I guarantee you it's going to be in court." Non-voting member Dan Gelber called it a "frolic" and "idealogical pork" that had no right before a commission with the power to reform Florida's tax structure. "I think this is as wrongheaded a proposal as this commission could come up with," Gelber said.

The TBRC has already placed on the ballot a related provision that would remove language from the state Constitution that limits financial aid to religious organizations.

Comments

Vouchers are the solution to everything. Florida already has the most vouchers and total school choice offerings of any state in the country. It is surprising that after nine years of vouchers, vouchers and more vouchers that Florida doesn't already have the greatest education system in the world.

[sean davis]

Two thumbs up! Florida needs more tax credit scholarships like this!

Republicans are ignorant and selfish. That sums it up nicely.

Where is the money coming from? Vouchers are not the answer, try fixing the public school system first. I love the last paragraph, that was my favorite.

[kitty]

So poor kids will again be relegated to substandard schools because their parents can't afford tuition costs over the value of the vouchers, and wealthy families will get a tuition break to send their little darlings to private academies ON MY DIME! What's wrong with this picture?

[Jeb go to He11...]

Private schools are "religious institutions" in Florida and this is just a sleazy way for the wingnut GOPers to bypass separation of C & S and pander to the creationists. Religious and Republican indoctrination, at our expense. NO NO NO! If they want to turn out more little wingnuts, do it at their own expense.

[Discusted]

I know a young man that graduated in '07 from an exclusive private school in Pinellas, with a 4.0. He can't even read at a 3rd grade level, he can't pass the exam to go to SPC or to get into the military. If your child can't make it in the "real world", why should my tax money be wasted on this type of education. What a hoax!!

1:45 - were you that young man?

[excellent]

Finally, Jeb promised me if I gave him $10,000 that he would provide millions for my homosexual christian voodoo school. The children really need this people!

[scree]

Let the wingnuts send their kids to religious schools- that will keep them out of my kid's class.

This is good, real good.

Ole Gelber looks tired. Must be carrying the teachers union water all the time.

Good to see that children will have a better opportunity to be educated rather than just indocrinated by a bunch of bedwetting, ACLU inspired, America hating diversity worshipers. The real world rewards excellence and those that can compete.

I cannot wait to hear how the teachers union and democrat watergirls are going to attack mandating that a minimum of 65% of funds be dedicated to the classroom. Too much common sense for them to overcome.

This TBRC session has turned out so good the only thing that could be better is if they would allow voters to decide if the TBRC should meet every 10 years instead of 20!!!

[Omega83]

How do we know the kids at private schools are performing better than those in public?

Omega - I know my kids are doing better in private school over public... my son has flourished since moving this year... prior, he was stuck in a class that was dictated by the least common denominator...

[Omega83]

2:49 did you pay for your kids to go there, or did you use taxpayer funded vouchers?

If you are using vouchers, do you think is it satisfactory enough for me, the regular taxpayer, to take your word on it that their performance has improved?

[Jon McPhee]

Hey, take a look at our future, folks! Florida makes it easy, almost more than any other state, to buy and stock up on and carry around in public all kinds of guns. (Don't tee off, folks, I have one or two myself.)

The public school system is so busy teaching to the FCAT that its students are largely ignorant of the way their "rights" were created, and what's needed from citizens to keep those rights from bleeding away. I would never believe that the "conservatives" had any such thing in mind, eh?

Add that to voucher schools that teach less and less of general education, and more and more of what "students" get in a fundamentalist Islamic madrasa. Presto Change-o! The Panjshir Valley in northwest Afghanistan, but with condos and salt water. Tally-Ho the homegrown Taliban! Jerry Falwell and Ted Hagee for a White House Dream Team!

Omega, who better than me to determine what is best for my child...

Jeb can you get a railroad voucher program. Oh wait, we already have that.

[terminator]

1:59 (Mr. Kirtley)
don't get your hopes up.

not only will we beat you at the polls, we'll beat you in court again (and this time McKay scholarships will be on the chopping block).

Florida voters won't vote for a two headed proposal. that was your big mistake.

they may like 65% but they won't support vouchers.

it should be a fun summer and fall.

hope the Jebster and his sidekick Levesque will be carrying their flakjackets with them.

not only will we beat you at the polls we're going to publicly embarrass you into oblivion!

what's the old saying about "paybacks are a b**ch"?

When the Legislature passed Jeb's version, there was NO ACCOUNTABILITY to any government - not to school boards, not to the state education department. Niente. Nada. Nothing.

I wonder about this proposal.

Jebbie enjoyed and took great meaning in signing into law clearly unconstitutional legislation.....which is a strong indicator of someone who wants to dictate....as in dictator.