This morning, we have discovered vouchers hidden in a conference report for an unrelated bill. Worse, the changes in statute are NOT underlined, something that is required to alert legislators to changes in law that are being proposed.
HB 1685, a pregnancy resources bill, includes a $2-million increase in an already large tax credit/voucher program, the true nature of which has not been revealed in the past. HB 1687 increases funding for the same program.
Please alert your legislators to this tactic being used to increase the amount of tax credits that direct tax dollars to private schools.
Ask your legislators to:
1. Ask those presenting any revenue conference report if it contains tax credits for donations to private schools.
2. VOTE NO on any conference report that contains tax credits for private schools (these are vouchers).
Find contact information for legislators who represent your school district
Capitol Switchboard: 601.359.3770
Send the same message to House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann.
Speaker Gunn: 601.359.3300
Lt. Gov. Hosemann: 601.359.3200
It is unconscionable that any legislator would vote to divert millions of dollars to private schools when public schools remain underfunded. Please call right away. Ask your family and friends to call, too. We promise to let you know how your legislators vote on these bills. We are still waiting for the conference report on our school funding bill. We’ll keep you posted!
