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WEAC president calls on Assembly to fulfill its promise, close voucher loophole
Posted: 1/30/2012 2:52:23 PM
For Immediate Release
January 30, 2012
Mary Bell, a teacher and president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, today urged Assembly Republicans to keep their promise of closing the voucher loophole created in the 2011-13 state budget. The loophole would allow voucher schools to expand in other areas of the state besides Milwaukee and Racine, and while several legislators have promised to correct the language to prevent that from happening, they have yet to pass the necessary fix. The following can be attributed to President Bell:
“Lawmakers have promised to close the loophole that would allow expansion of voucher schools, but Wisconsin has yet to see them live up to their word. Without action, taxpayer dollars could be poured into private and religious schools in Green Bay and other cities – without legislative oversight or community input.
“Senator Ellis and Representative Vos promised to honor an agreement by Republican lawmakers, leadership, and the governor to limit the voucher expansion to Racine through separate legislation after the budget debate was over. The Senate has passed the necessary legislation, and Governor Walker has said he’ll sign it. Now it’s time for the Assembly to act.
“Remarks by the Assembly speaker’s office that, now, the Assembly may not have enough votes to close the loophole are disturbing and are another example of the lengths Republican legislators will go to in order to push an extreme agenda versus doing what’s right for Wisconsin. As caught on camera last week, Republican lawmakers are meeting in hotel bars to talk about vouchers, but the Assembly has yet to follow through on its promise in the Capitol.
“Wisconsin educators call upon Assembly leaders and Governor Walker to live up to their promise and close this loophole.”
