Sunday, December 23, 2012

Florida--Indiana--Vouchers

by Edd Doerr

This letter was published in the Washington Examiner on 12/23/12  ----

"Florida school board thumbs nose at voters"

On Nov 6 Florida voters rejected, 55 to 45, a proposed state constitutional amendment designed to allow diversion of public funds to church-run private schools through vouchers.

On the same day Indiana voters ousted state school superintendent Tony Bennett, who had displayed his disdain for teachers and his support for diverting public funds to church-run private schools through vouchers, even though he outspent his Democratic challenger, teacher Glenda Ritz, by 4 to 1 in a state that went for Romney.

One month later the Florida state school board appointed Bennett the new state education commissioner, thereby demonstrating board members' contempt for voters, for public education, and for the religious freedom of citizens not to be forced to support religious institutions.

Florida and Indiana politicians seem to have little regard for either voters or their state constitutions.

Edd Doerr, President, Americans for Religious Liberty

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