CONCORD — Removing the salary cap from the Education Freedom Account program will expand alternative education opportunities to all the state’s children, supporters said Thursday at a public hearing.
But even more people testified and sent electronic testimony to the House Education Funding Committee that House Bill 115 is fiscally irresponsible, would give taxpayer money to people who don’t need it, and an attempt to defund public education with a program that fails to meet basic accountability and transparency needed.
kAmp?5 >2?J A6@A=6 E6DE:7J:?8 :? E96 2==\27E6C?@@? AF3=:4 962C:?8 D2:5 F?E:= E96 DE2E6 256BF2E6=J 7F?5D AF3=:4 65F42E:@? 2?5 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? D6CG:46D[ E96C6 D9@F=5 36 ?@ 6IA2?D:@? @7 E96 7@FC\J62C @=5 AC@8C2> 36J@?5 :ED 4FCC6?E 3@F?52C:6D]k^Am
kAm%96 3:== H@F=5 C6>@G6 E96 D6?E6?46 D6EE:?8 E96 4FCC6?E D2=2CJ 42A 2E bd_ A6C46?E @7 E96 7656C2= A@G6CEJ =6G6= 7C@> E96 tup DE2EFE6 >62?:?8 2?J A2C6?E C682C5=6DD @7 :?4@>6 H@F=5 36 23=6 E@ C646:G6 2 DE2E6 E2IA2J6C 7F?565 8C2?E E92E 2G6C286D 23@FE Sd[a__ E9:D D49@@= J62C]k^Am
kAms632E6 @? E96 3:== 5C6H A2C6?ED 2?5 49:=5C6? :? E96 AC@8C2> H9@ E@FE65 :ED G2=F6[ A2C6?ED 2?5 DEF56?ED H9@ AC2:D65 AF3=:4 D49@@=D 2?5 2D<65 E96 DE2E6 E@ 256BF2E6=J 7F?5 AF3=:4 65F42E:@?[ D49@@= 3@2C5 >6>36CD[ A@=:E:42= 2?5 C6=:8:@FD 25G@42E6D 2?5 @E96CD 7:==:?8 E9C66 5:776C6?E C@@>D :? E96 {68:D=2E:G6 ~77:46 qF:=5:?8]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E9@D6 E6DE:7J:?8 D2:5 564256D @7 5@H?D9:7E:?8 65F42E:@? 4@DED E@ =@42= AC@A6CEJ E2IA2J6CD 92D 4@?E:?F2==J C2:D65 E96 4@DED 7@C =@42= E2IA2J6CD 4C62E:?8 492==6?8:?8 @AE:@?D 7@C >2?J D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED[ 6DA64:2==J E9@D6 E92E DECF88=6 E@ AC@G:56 2? 65F42E:@? E@ E96:C DEF56?ED]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@8C2> H@F=5 D:A9@? >@?6J E@ AC:G2E6 2?5 C6=:8:@FD D49@@=D 2?5 9@>6D49@@=6CD 2?5 2H2J 7C@> AF3=:4 D49@@=D H9@ ?665 >@C6 >@?6J[ ?@E =6DD[ @AA@?6?ED D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE DFAA@CE6CD D2:5 6G6CJ 49:=5 56D6CG6D E96 36DE 65F42E:@?2= @AE:@? 7@C 9:> @C 96C]k^Am
kAm#6A] '2=6C:6 |4s@??6== W#\$2=6>X E96 3:==’D AC:>6 DA@?D@C[ D2:5 96C 3:== :D 2? 2EE6>AE E@ 7F?5 DEF56?ED ?@E E96 DJDE6>[ 2 A9C2D6 C6A62E65 @7E6? %9FCD52J]k^Am
kAm“t5F42E:@? 2EE2:?>6?E D9@F=5 ?@E 36 =:>:E65 E@ 2 DEF56?E’D :?4@>6 @C K:A 4@56[” D96 D2:5] “%9:D >@56DE 3:== H@F=5 92G6 D:8?:7:42?E 36?67:ED 7@C 6G6CJ 72>:=J WH9@ H@F=5 36 23=6X E@ 49@@D6 E96 36DE 65F42E:@? >@56= E@ 7:E E96:C 49:=5’D ?665D]”k^Am
kAm&?56C 96C 3:==[ D96 D2:5 9:89 D49@@= DEF56?ED H@F=5 36 23=6 E@ A2J 7@C 25G2?465 A=246>6?E E6DE:?8 2==@H:?8 E96> E@ C65F46 E96 E:>6 E96J DA6?5 :? 4@==686[ >2<:?8 :E >@C6 2EE2:?23=6 2?5 277@C523=6 2?5 C65F4:?8 E96 ?665 7@C >@C6 9:896C 65F42E:@? =@2?D]k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 E96 3:== H@F=5 D2G6 E2IA2J6CD >@?6J H96? 2 DEF56?E =62G6D AF3=:4 D49@@= 7@C E96 AC@8C2>[ D96 6DE:>2E65 2E S`h[___[ 3FE @E96CD E6DE:7J:?8 @3;64E65 E@ 96C DE2E6>6?E D2J:?8 E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 DEF56?ED :? E96 AC@8C2>[ 2?5 H9@ H@F=5 6?C@== :7 E96C6 H6C6 ?@ :?4@>6 42A[ 92G6 ?6G6C 366? :? AF3=:4 D49@@=D 2?5 ?6G6C 5C2H? E2IA2J6C 5@==2CD]k^Am
kAm|4s@??6== D2:5 >2?J @7 96C 4@?DE:EF6?ED — A2C6?ED 2?5 65F42E@CD — 2C6 “4CJ:?8 @FE E@ FD 7@C 96=A 2?5 :E :D @FC @3=:82E:@? 2D =68:D=2E@CD E@ 96=A E96>] x7 H6 42??@E 96=A >66E E96 65F42E:@?2= ?665D[ H92E 2C6 H6 5@:?8 96C6n”k^Am
kAmqFE s@G6C $49@@= q@2C5 >6>36C |:426=2 s6>6E6C D2:5 E96 3:== H@F=5 ?@E D2G6 E2IA2J6CD 2?J >@?6J]k^Am
kAm“%9:D 2EE6>AE E@ 6IA2?5 E96 G@F496C DJDE6> :? }6H w2>AD9:C6 :D 2 DA6?5:?8 564:D:@? @FC DE2E6 42??@E 277@C5 E@ >2<6[” D96 D2:5] “xE :D 2? :CC6DA@?D:3=6 FD6 @7 E2IA2J6C 7F?5D]”k^Am
kAm*@F 92G6 E@ 2DDF>6 6G6CJ AC:G2E6 @C C6=:8:@FD 9@>6D49@@= DEF56?E H@F=5 6?C@== :? E96 AC@8C2>[ H9@ 2C6 ?@E C646:G:?8 7F?5:?8[ ?@H H:== 36 2 ?6H =:23:=:EJ 7@C E2IA2J6CD[ s6>6E6C D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? 96C 5:DEC:4E[ E96 DA64:2= 65F42E:@? 4@DED 2C6 Sd]g >:==:@?[ H9:=6 E96 DE2E6 H:== C6:>3FCD6 E96 4:EJ S`]g >:==:@?[ H9:49 C6BF:C6D s@G6C AC@A6CEJ E2IA2J6CD E@ 4@G6C Sc]a >:==:@?[ ?@E:?8 E96 4:EJ’D D92C6 8C@HD 6G6CJ J62C]k^Am
kAm“%9:D W3:==X :D ?@E 2 >FDE 5@[” D96 D2:5[ “:E :D 2 H2?E E@ 5@]”k^Am
kAmrFCC6?E=J E96 DE2E6 =2H 92D 2 42A 2E bd_ A6C46?E @7 E96 7656C2= A@G6CEJ =6G6= E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 tup AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm&?56C E92E 8F:56=:?6[ 2 72>:=J @7 7@FC 4@F=5 62C? S``a[dad 2?5 2 72>:=J @7 EH@ Sfc[_ad[ 3FE :7 E96 3:== A2DD6D E96C6 H@F=5 36 ?@ =:>:E @? 2 72>:=J’D :?4@>6 E@ 5C2H DE2E6 E2I >@?6J 7C@> E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm~E96C DE2E6D E92E 92G6 >@G65 E@ “F?:G6CD2= G@F496C” DJDE6>D 92G6 7@F?5 2=>@DE 2== @7 E96 ?6H 6?C@==66D H:== 36 DEF56?ED 4FCC6?E=J :? C6=:8:@FD @C AC:G2E6 D49@@=D @C 36:?8 9@>6D49@@=65] %96 A2C6?ED @7 E9@D6 DEF56?ED 2C6 :? 6DD6?46 8:G6? 2 DF3D:5J E@ 96=A A2J E96 4@DE @7 AC:G2E6 @C C6=:8:@FD D49@@=D[ @C 9@>6D49@@=:?8[ E96J 925 A2:5 7@C E96>D6=G6D]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@8C2> H2D 2AAC@G65 2D A2CE @7 E96 a_aa\a_ab 3F586E A24<286 2?5 3682? :? E96 72== @7 a_a` H:E9 `[ebd DEF56?ED 4@DE:?8 Sg >:==:@? H96? E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? r@>>:DD:@?6C uC2?< t56=3=FE 925 AC65:4E65 :E H@F=5 36 Sb__[___[ 2?5 8C6H E@ b[_ad DEF56?ED 4@DE:?8 S`c]f >:==:@? :? E96 D64@?5 J62C[ 2?5 E@ d[add DEF56?ED 4@DE:?8 Saa >:==:@? =2DE J62C 2?5 E@ d[ba` DEF56?ED 2?5 Sag >:==:@? E9:D D49@@= J62C]k^Am
kAm(:E9@FE 2 D2=2CJ 42A[ E96 tup AC@8C2> 92D E96 A@E6?E:2= E@ 4@DE E96 DE2E6 @G6C S`__ >:==:@? :? 2?2=JD:D 5@?6 3J #6249:?8 w:896C }w[ 2 AF3=:4 65F42E:@? 25G@424J @C82?:K2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 >@?6J E@ 8:G6 A2C6?ED 8C2?ED E92E 2G6C286 23@FE Sd[a__ A6C DEF56?E :? E96 AC@8C2> 4@>6D 7C@> E96 t5F42E:@? %CFDE uF?5[ H9:49 H2D 4C62E65 27E6C E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE’D r=2C6>@?E 65F42E:@? 7F?5:?8 DF:E 564:D:@?D b_ J62CD 28@[ AC@G:56D ?62C=J 2== DE2E6 2:5 E@ D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2?5 492CE6C D49@@=D] %96 ECFDE 7F?5 4FCC6?E=J 92D 23@FE 2 Sa__ >:==:@? DFCA=FD[ 3FE E92E :D AC@;64E65 E@ 36 C65F465 E@ 23@FE S`ad >:==:@? DFCA=FD 2E E96 6?5 @7 E9:D 7:D42= J62C 2D E96 >@?6J 8@:?8 :?E@ E96 ECFDE 7F?5 7C@> DE2E6 C6G6?F6D :D Sdg]b >:==:@? 36=@H H92E 3F586E HC:E6CD 6DE:>2E65 H@F=5 36 92=7\H2J E9C@F89 E96 a_ad 7:D42= J62C] %96 DE2E6 :D 4FCC6?E=J 724:?8 2 D:8?:7:42?E 567:4:E =:<6 :E 92D?’E D66? D:?46 E96 8C62E C646DD:@? `d J62CD 28@]k^Am
kAmqFE DFAA@CE6CD D2:5 E96J H2?E65 @E96C 72>:=:6D E@ 92G6 E96 6IA6C:6?46D E96:C 49:=5C6? 5:5 2D E96J E9C:G65 :? 2=E6C?2E:G6 D6EE:?8D 27E6C 6:E96C 72:=:?8 @C ?@E A6C7@C>:?8 FA E@ E96:C 42A23:=:E:6D :? AF3=:4 D49@@=D]k^Am
kAm~?6 A6CD@? D2:5 DEF56?ED H9@ 8C25F2E6 7C@> AF3=:4 9:89 D49@@=D :? E96 DE2E6[ 92G6 >2?J 49@:46D H96C6 E@ 8@ E@ 4@==686 :? @C56C E@ 36DE 7:E E96:C :?E6C6DE 2?5 DEF56?ED :? z E@ E96 `aE9 8C256 @F89E E@ 92G6 E96 D2>6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2D :E H:== 7@DE6C 4@>A6E:E:@? 2?5 :>AC@G6 2== 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAmv23C:6==6 y6EE6 @7 |2?496DE6C D2:5 D96 92D E9C66 49:=5C6? 2?5 “2D 2 >@E96C J@F H2?E E@ ECJ E@ 8:G6 J@FC 49:=5C6? E96 36DE @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C E96> E92E 7:ED E96:C :?5:G:5F2= ?665D]”k^Am
kAm$96 D2:5 E96J H6C6 ?@E 92AAJ H:E9 E96 AF3=:4 D49@@=D :? E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 :?DE625 6?C@==65 E96:C 49:=5C6? :? E96 $2:?E uC2?4:D $49@@= :? {:E497:6=5 H96C6 E96J 92G6 2 “C62==J 9@=:DE:4 65F42E:@?” H9:49 92D 366? 8@@5 7@C E96:C 49:=5C6?]k^Am
kAm“(6 D:E ;FDE 23@G6 E96 :?4@>6 =:>:E E@ BF2=:EJ 7@C E96 tup 36?67:E[” y6EE6 D2:5] “(6 >2<6 :E H@C< 3FE :E :D ?@E 62DJ[ H6’G6 925 E@ 4FE E9:?8D]”k^Am
kAmtIA2?5:?8 E96 AC@8C2> H@F=5 C62==J 96=A 96C 72>:=J 2?5 @E96CD =:<6 96CD[ D96 D2:5[ 255:?8 D96 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 6G6CJ DEF56?E 36?67:E 7C@> E96 36DE 65F42E:@? 7@C 6249 @?6]k^Am
kAm~E96CD E@=5 @7 92G:?8 E96:C 49:=5C6? 3F==:65 2?5 D@>6 A2C6?ED D2:5 E96J H6C6 ?@E 92AAJ H:E9 E96 BF2=:EJ @7 E96 AF3=:4 D49@@=D]k^Am
kAmqFE {@F:D6 $A6?46C @7 r@?4@C5 2?5 @?6 @7 E96 7@F?56CD @7 E96 z6?E $EC66E r@2=:E:@?[ ?@E65 E96J 962C5 D@>6 4@>A6==:?8 DE@C:6D 7C@> A2C6?ED 2?5 49:=5C6?[ 3FE ?@E65 E96J 925 ?@E 962C5 7C@> AF3=:4 D49@@= E62496CD @C DEF56?ED 3642FD6 E96J 4@F=5 ?@E 36 E96C6 3642FD6 E96J 92G6 E@ 36 :? D49@@=]k^Am
kAm“w62C:?8 >2;@C 4C:E:4:D> @7 AF3=:4 D49@@=D 3C62<D >J 962CE[” D96 D2:5[ “3642FD6 E96J >62? D@ >F49 E@ E9@D6 H9@ 2EE6?5 E96> 2?5 E96:C 72>:=:6D]”k^Am
kAm%92E 4C:E:4:D> 5@6D ?@E E2<6 :?E@ 244@F?E E96 492==6?86D AF3=:4 D49@@=D 92G6 2?5 E96 724E E92E }6H w2>AD9:C6 5@6D ?@E 256BF2E6=J 7F?5 65F42E:@?[ $A6?46C D2:5]k^Am
kAmp ?F>36C @7 A6@A=6 E6DE:7J:?8 ?@E65 E96 DE2E6 :D 6:E96C chE9 @C d_E9 :? E96 4@F?ECJ 7@C DE2E6 2:5 E@ AF3=:4 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kAm“(:E9@FE 256BF2E6 7F?5:?8[ J@F 42??@E 255C6DD E96 ?665D @7 6G6CJ 49:=5[ E92E 6G6CJ 49:=5 56D6CG6D[” $A6?46C D2:5[ “2?5 D9@F=5 36 W23=6 E@ C646:G6X :? @FC AF3=:4 D49@@=D]”k^Am
kAm~E96CD D2:5 E96 3:== H@F=5 ?@E 96=A E96 =@H\:?4@>6 72>:=:6D :E H2D E@FE65 E@ D6CG6 H96? E96 AC@8C2> H2D 6DE23=:D965[ 3FE H:== >2<6 :?6BF2=:E:6D H@CD6 2D :E H@F=5 >@C6 36?67:E E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 E96 C:496DE]k^Am
kAm#6A] |2C< '2==@?6 Ws\tAA:?8X D2:5 96 :D ?@E @AA@D65 E@ tupD[ 3FE 9:D @AA@D:E:@? :D E@ 92G6 2 72>:=J E92E H:== DA6?5 Sda[___ 7@C EF:E:@? E@ !9:==:AD tI6E6C p4256>J C646:G6 2 E2IA2J6C 7F?565 8C2?E]k^Am
kAm“x 7:?5 :E @FEC286@FD E92E E96 E2IA2J6CD @7 tAA:?8 2C6 DA6?5:?8 E2IA2J6CD’ 5@==2CD E@ 7F?5 D@>6@?6 E@ 8@ E@ !9:==:AD tI6E6C H:E9 EF:E:@? @7 Sda[___[” '2==@?6 D2:5] “*@F 2C6 @A6?:?8 !2?5@C2’D q@I H:E9 ?@ =:>:ED]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 6=64EC@?:4 7:=:?8 DJDE6>[ ff_ A6@A=6 DFAA@CE E96 3:==[ b[adb @AA@D6 E96 3:== 2?5 E9C66 2C6 ?6FEC2=]k^Am
kAm%96 4@>>:EE66 5:5 ?@E >2<6 2? :>>65:2E6 C64@>>6?52E:@? @? E96 3:==]k^Am
kAmv2CCJ #2J?@ >2J 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>Qm82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>k^2m]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.