"With Florida facing a $3 billion deficit and striving to maintain momentum in improving public schools, this is an odd time to talk about expanding tuition vouchers for private schools. Yet voucher supporters are pushing legislation that would divert more tax money to the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship and raise the value of each voucher. Legislators should keep the focus on improving public education and reject this legally suspect bid to siphon more public money away to private schools.
The voucher program for low-income students is one of two surviving voucher programs embraced by former Gov. Jeb Bush and approved by the Legislature. Nearly 25,000 students use the vouchers at more than 1,000 private schools, and companies get dollar-for-dollar state tax credits toward both corporate income taxes and insurance premium taxes for contributing to the program. Supporters of the program are well intentioned in their efforts to assist often struggling students from low-income families. But there are fundamental questions that should be answered before the program is expanded:
Is this voucher program constitutional?"
The voucher program for low-income students is one of two surviving voucher programs embraced by former Gov. Jeb Bush and approved by the Legislature. Nearly 25,000 students use the vouchers at more than 1,000 private schools, and companies get dollar-for-dollar state tax credits toward both corporate income taxes and insurance premium taxes for contributing to the program. Supporters of the program are well intentioned in their efforts to assist often struggling students from low-income families. But there are fundamental questions that should be answered before the program is expanded:
Is this voucher program constitutional?"
