Excerpts from the November 9, 2023, Texas House of Representatives Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Select Committee provides insights on the egregious nature of vouchers.
The Governor of Texas called 4 special sessions of the legislature in an unsuccessful attempt to force school vouchers on the citizens of Texas. An Instagram reel provides an exchange between Texas Representative James Talarico and a Texas Education Agency official regarding the fact that under the proposal, the wealthy families, not the poor families, would be the primary beneficiaries.
Representative Talarico: “This Voucher scam is being pitched as “choice” for poor and working-class kids. But poor kids can’t get the voucher for a whole host of reasons that we’ve already touched on.”
“In other states that have tried these scams, this has become a coupon for wealthy families to save on their private school bills. ““New Hampshire’s voucher program had similar prioritization as this bill.” “Do you know what percent of their voucher program has gone to kids already in private school?”
Texas Education Agency Official: “No, sir we don’t have that data.”
Representative Talarico: “It’s 89%.” “Do you know what percentage of the recipients of Arizona’s voucher program were already in private school?”
Texas Education Agency Official: “No, sir.”
Representative Talarico: “75%.“ “Do you know what percentage of the recipients of Wisconsin’s voucher program were already in private school? “
Texas Education Agency Official: “No, sir.”
Representative Talarico: “76%.”
“So, under this bill is it true that a wealthy CEO sending his two kids to an elite four-year private high school would get more than $80,000 in taxpayer funds? “
Texas Education Agency Official: “I think that’s a possibility; yes, sir.”
Representative Talarico: “Okay, well that’s enough for a new Mercedes for that CEO at the expense of my students on the west side of San Antonio and students in the 3rd Ward of Houston and students in the Rio Grande Valley, students in suburbs and small towns around the state. This would be a massive transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top. If this passes; It’s welfare for the wealthy.”
The entire committee hearing can be viewed here.
Texas House of Representatives : Broadcast Archives
Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Select Committee_November 9, 2023_1:22:48-1:25:54
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VOUCHERS HURT OHIO
