House Voucher Bills Drain Millions of Dollars from Public Schools
Reckless Schemes Divert Tax Dollars to Pay for Private School Tuition
April 5, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUSTIN Texas lawmakers should focus on funding our state’s neighborhood public schools instead of pushing voucher schemes, the president of the Texas Freedom Network said today.
“Vouchers drain money from our public schools,” TFN President Kathy Miller said. “At a time when the Legislature is struggling to find the money our public schools need to keep pace with inflation, infrastructure needs and enrollment growth, it is reckless to take money out of those schools to subsidize private school tuition.”
Three voucher bills heard by the House Public Education Committee today would drain between $600 million and $1.1 billion a year from public schools, Miller said.
Gov. Perry spoke at a pro-voucher rally before the committee hearing.
“Gov. Perry claims to support public education, but he stands with special interests that are pushing voucher bills that would actually undermine our neighborhood schools,” Miller said. “If Gov. Perry and our other elected leaders support public schools, they simply cannot support private school vouchers.”
