Indiana House Votes Against School Choice
House Democrats Vote Unanimously Against Parental Choice

Earlier today, on a straight party-line vote, the Democrat majority of the Indiana House voted to postpone vital school choice programs enacted less than a year ago. 

While a disappointing vote about political posturing more than education policy, the bill now moves to the Indiana Senate where we expect little support or action for the bill.  Thank you to all of the school choice supporters who contacted their representatives on this matter.  Please stay tuned for Senate action updates.

Politics Over Helping Parents

House Bill 1367, authored by Rep. Greg Porter (D-Indpls.), would postpone the new Indiana School Scholarship Tax Credit and virtual education pilot programs enacted in 2009. These modest programs are designed to provide parents with more educational options and save money for the state in the process.

Original language in the bill would have capped and strangled the public charter school sector, as well. However, the charter school language was removed on Monday as part of a deal. School choice opponents didn't want to be put on the spot for risking the loss of hundreds of millions in new federal grant funding through President Obama's "Race To The Top" program - of which charter school choices are a key requirement.

The state's budget crisis and pending cuts in K-12 school funding were used as a pretext to try and kill very modest school choice programs. The facts are, even admitted by many who oppose school choice, that these programs will save money for the state.  More school choices would equal more savings for taxpayers, but the facts weren't to get in the way of politics.

This sordid legislative affair began as a demand made by the scandal-ridden ISTA teachers union for a bill to demonstrate their political muscle and attack opponents over school funding cuts.  Attacking school choice in the bill was a sure-fire way to make it a partisan issue and force a party-line vote. Further, the ISTA teachers union was able to grandstand for teachers worried about layoffs, making them pawns in a political chess game. 

House Minority Leader Brian Bosma (R-Indpls) and Rep. Robert Behning (R-Indpls), along with many others, deserve real praise for their passionate defense of the scholarship tax credit, virtual education, and charter schools.  Their support for helping Hoosier families access new educational choices is appreciated. Those legislators who voted for the bill voted against parents and taxpayers who want more educational choices and budget savings in tough times.

The bill will now move to the Indiana Senate where we expect little action or support for the bill. Please stay tuned for further updates.