TUESDAY TATTLER 9

So the Indiana Supreme Court ruled last week that the state's voucher program is legal; thus, allowing for public tax dollars to continue being used to finance private school tuition.

"We hold that the Indiana school voucher program, the choice scholarship program, is within the legislature's power under Article 8, Section 1, and that the enacted program does not violate either Section 4 or Section 6 of Article 1 of the Indiana Constitution," the justices wrote in the 5-0 decision.

It is important to note, that this ruling not only allows for a voucher program to finance private school tuition, but it also allows for these funds to be utilized for those private insititutions with a religious base.  Apparently the Supreme Court does not hold a belief that the Indiana Constitution calls for a separation of church and state when allowing our public tax dollars to finance the tuition of private paraochial schools.  However, just because the Supreme Court ruled vouchers to be constitutinally legal, it does not mean that they should be rapidly and continually expanded at the expense of our state's public schools.

At the legislative level the next step for the Voucher Expansion Bill (HB 1003) is the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee. Since HB 1003 had a fiscal cost, it was recommitted to the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee for approval in their final meeting this morning.  Senator Kenley is a member of this committee, so it would seem that his amendments will be accepted to reduce the fiscal cost and thus move the bill out of committee and to the full senate for a vote.  This could happen anytime between April 4 and April 10 making it vital for ALL senators to hear from PUBLIC education supporters in opposition to the Voucher Expansion Bill.

It is important to note that, even though Representative Robert Behning has assumed passage from the introduction of this bill,  that 21 current Senators voted against vouchers in 2011. That group forms a strong base for opposition to voucher expansion.  They should be thanked for their vote and asked to continue to vote against vouchers. They are: Republican Senators Alting, Becker, Boots, Head, Mishler, Nugent, Tomes, Waterman and Zakas. (9)
Democrat Senators Arnold, Breaux, Broden, Hume, Lanane, Mrvan, Randolph, Rogers, Skinner, Tallian, Taylor, Richard Young. (12)

It is just as important to note that there are 25 Senators who voted for vouchers in 2011 who are currently in the Senate. They should be reminded about the new additional fiscal costs for vouchers given to students who are already in private schools and asked to vote against expanding the voucher program at this time. They are: Republican Senators Banks, Buck, Charbonneau, Delph, Eckerty, Glick, Grooms, Hershman, Holdman, Kenley, Kruse, Landske, Leising, Long, Merritt, Pat Miller, Paul, Schneider, Smith, Steele, Walker, Waltz, Wyss, Yoder, and Michael Young,

There are also 4 Senators who are new to the Senate and did not vote on vouchers in 2011. They should be asked to hold to the original program and not expand vouchers due to the new excessive fiscal costs. They are: Republican Senators Bray, Crider and Pete Miller and Democrat Senator Stoops.

As you make your calls, send your emails, and write letters, be firm in your stance and remind your senators that this fiscal impact is not to be perceived as an effort to assist private school parents with tuition support, but it is a blatant swipe at our PUBLIC schools and robs them of much needed monies during some rough economic times.  It is vital that we make a strong push to encourage our senators to vote down HB1003 and leave the voucher program at current levels and hold of expanding an already costly program.