Moore, Bonamici, Frost, Grijalva, and Pocan Blast Regulations Paving the Way for National Voucher Scheme

Moore, Bonamici, Frost, Grijalva, and Pocan Blast Regulations Paving the Way for National Voucher Scheme

The Treasury Department recently released regulations on their national voucher scheme, which was established through the Republicans' Big Ugly Bil (HR 1). That law allowed Americans to receive a tax credit, up to $1,700, for donations to eligible scholarship-granting organizations, including religious schools. These regulations will double the credit amount for married couples. Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-04), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), and Mark Pocan (WI-02) have introduced HR 9289, the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act, which would repeal the H.R .1 voucher scheme.

In states across the country, taxpayer supported voucher programs operate with little oversight and fund private schools who lack civil rights and other protections for students. In Wisconsin, the current voucher program at the state level will cost state taxpayers more than $700 million this year alone. Nearly all the students receiving a voucher in Wisconsin attend private, religious schools.

Republicans are working to enact and expand this flawed system at the national level. So far, six states have resisted, including Wisconsin.

"Despite what Republicans claim, these regulations make it clear this voucher scheme is designed to prop up private schools- at the expense of our public schools. Public schools serve every student who walks through its doors. Our tax dollars should not be funneled to schools that can discriminate against students who try to enroll. That is why I am proud to spearhead legislation to reverse this voucher scheme," said Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04).

"The Treasury Department's school voucher regulations clearly demonstrate that the Trump administration has no interest in supporting public schools or the students they serve," said Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01). "Diverting public resources into private schools - including religious schools - that can pick and choose which students they enroll is unjust and irresponsible. Alarmingly, the regulations actually prohibit states from implementing additional oversight, reporting, accountability, or civil rights protections. The vast majority of students in this country attend public schools. We should be strengthening public education, not destroying it."

"This voucher scheme sends public money to private schools with less accountability for how that money is spent," said Representative Maxwell Frost (FL-10)."We've already seen the consequences in Florida, where the state struggled to track hundreds of millions of dollars in voucher funds and cases of fraud surfaced. Now the Treasury Department and Trump administration want to take that same model nationwide. We shouldn't be making it easier to lose track of taxpayer dollars; we should be making sure every dollar is accountable to the public."

"Arizona's fraud-ridden school voucher program should serve as a warning to the rest of the country. Instead, the Trump Administration is moving full steam ahead with a national voucher scheme while failing to include even basic safeguards to prevent taxpayer dollars from being wasted or abused. Arizona has already seen where this road leads. That's why Congress must act to ensure federal taxpayer dollars strengthen the public schools that serve the overwhelming majority of America's children, not subsidize privatization schemes rife with fraud," said Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07).

"As a proud public school graduate, I know firsthand the value and importance of our public education system," said Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02). "Fixing this blatant abuse of the tax system will help kids across the country, not just those whose parents are members of Mar-a-Lago. I applaud my friend, Rep. Moore, for spearheading this legislation, and I'm glad to be part of this effort to keep public funds in public schools."