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Evers Vetoes $1700 School Choice Tax Credit
School choice supporters in Wisconsin say Gov. Tony Evers is walking away from money that could help lots of kids in the state get a better education.
The governor on Monday vetoed legislation that would have opted Wisconsin into a federal-matched scholarship program for education. The program would have allowed people to donate up to $1,700 for school needs, and get a $1,700 tax credit.
The governor said he killed the plan because he doesn’t want to see more school vouchers.
"The Wisconsin State Legislature expects me to sign this bill to force myself to formally opt Wisconsin into this private voucher school program and wholly ignore potential consequences with which Wisconsinites are already all too familiar," the governor wrote in his veto message.
But school choice supporters were quick to say the scholarship program would not have taken any money away from public schools in Wisconsin. In fact, the scholarships could have been used to help public school students as well.
Cory Brewer with the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty said the money could have paid for "tutoring, curriculum, transportation, internet access, technology, materials, special needs therapies, and more for students across all sectors—not just private schools."
“This new federal opportunity offers a meaningful way to expand educational opportunities for Wisconsin students in all types of schools at no cost to the state," Brewer said. "Gov. Evers chose to side with the education establishment instead of Wisconsin families. At a time when other states are expanding opportunity, Wisconsin is being left behind by its own leadership.”
As of earlier this month, 28 states have opted into the scholarship program. That includes states with Democratic governors like Colorado.
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