Crist, vouchers, African Americans

Gov. Charlie Crist was in Miami yesterday supporting private-school vouchers, and at his side: former U.S. Congresswoman Carrie Meek and state Rep. Ronald Brise. Both are African Americans. Both are Democrats. And the presence of both offers more evidence, maybe, that black Democrats in Florida are switching party allegiances on a key education issue. The St. Petersburg Times wrote about this in August, when Meek came out for vouchers. For more on the event in Miami, click here.

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Comments

[terminator]

10:13
It wasn't Marco's original idea, it was Jeb's.
Marco being a conservative GOP politician would endorse it because he thinks that's what will buy him votes from the GOP constituency.
Did you see him file any bills (a la Webster) in an attempt to resurrect the voucher program struck down by the Florida Supreme Court?

8:51
You're totally off base. It would be struck down as unconstitutional as surely as the opportunity scholarship was ruled unconstitutional.
FEA opted to not file against the Corporate Scholarship Program or McKay scholarship program only in an effort to show good faith.
But now it appears our good faith efforts have been thrown under the bus by Crist and those who would seek to undermine us.
As you well know, we just initiated our campaign to defeat Proposition One at the polls on Jan. 29th.
Don't confuse our good faith for weakness. We can and will file against the corporate scholarship program if we have to. Just ask Ron Myer.

Also, that money is state taxpayer money no matter how you dice it.
Don't forget, we've got the majority on the Florida Supreme Court.

We will use it if we have to. Bet on it!

To 10:13pm--

The ridiculous "uniformity" decision by the Florida Supreme Court does not apply to the tax credit program, and if anyone were to try that lawsuit it would surely lose--the money never belongs to the state.

More importantly, do you think we will fix a system that graduates less than half its minority students if all our efforts strive for a "one size fits all" approach? Magnets, charters, open enrollment, virtual schools, and yes even schools not run by the government--they're all part of the solution.

Rubio is a great champion of parental choice in education--he always has. That comes as no surprise.

There is just one problem with SCA's position that says that "legislators" should explore all educational options. The current constitution specifically per the ruling on Opportunity Scholarships bans vouchers if they are designed to create a non-uniform system of public education. If you want vouchers, put them on the ballot to change the constitution. When the voters reject it (by more than 50% by the way) accept that your scheme to take tax dollars for private schools is not what the citizens of the state want.

Termie, what does master Rubio think about vouchers? I think that this unoriginal and "recycled idea" was one of the "100 Ideas to Destroy the State of Florida."

[School Choice Advocate]

It's great to see republicans and democrats unite for the best interest of Florida's low-income families and for education. Florida's education system is in a crisis with only 60 percent of students graduating High School--furthermore, only 46.7 African Americans in Florida graduate. Legislators need to explore all educational options and offer as many avenues to a promising education for Florida's youth as possible.

[terminator]

wow, another bold policy initiative for the tan man.

just more recycled left over Jeb Bush junk.

can't this guy get an original idea?

someone should have mentioned Carrie Meek's foundation and her association with a corrupt Boston developer who ripped off the Miami-Dade County Empowerment Zone for a half a million while never delivering on a proposed bio-tech park in Liberty City. Meek has free office space in another building built by the developer in Opa Locka and drove a luxury SUV provided by same developer until the Miami Herald blew the whistle.

I may also mention that Charlie's good buddy "Uncle Tom" Willard Fair (State Board of Ed Chair and Crist appointee) served on the same empowerment zone board that squandered millions of taxpayer money on sweet heart deals for friends of friends. lobbyists and insider cronies.

Are these people we want to trust with taxpayer money?

I think not!