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Gov. Jeb Bush Said He Would Push for a Constitutional Amendment to Save Florida's Private School Voucher Programs

Posted on: Thursday, 16 February 2006, 06:00 CST

By Gary Fineout, The Miami Herald

Feb. 16--TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush vowed Wednesday before a partisan crowd of parents and children to ask Florida voters to save the state's three private school voucher programs.

Florida's first private school voucher program, which has more than 700 students statewide, including more than 400 in Miami-Dade County, was ruled unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court in January. The court said that the program diverted money from public schools. Supporters of vouchers are worried that the ruling also could be used to shut down two other voucher programs that have nearly 30,000 students.

The program the high court threw out, known as opportunity scholarships, offers a private school voucher to students who have attended, or otherwise would attend, a school that has repeatedly received failing grades.

Appearing at a rally put together by pro-voucher groups and attended by as many as 3,000 students and parents, Bush said there is "no other option" than to have the voters change the state constitution to save vouchers, a key component of the governor's "A+ plan."

"I know that if presented this choice in November that Floridians will say yes, that this is a fundamental right, that this is a civil right, that this is American as apple pie," Bush said.

Democrats, who remain opposed to vouchers, said that Republicans should focus their time and energy on helping public schools instead of trying to save vouchers.

"Floridians want to us to fix public schools, not push some right-wing agenda to privatize schools," said Rep. Dan Gelber, a Miami Beach Democrat.

Bush predicted after the "Save our Students" rally that the Republican-controlled Legislature would endorse his call to place the amendment on the ballot. That would require a three-fifths vote in each legislative chamber.

But despite Bush's prediction, it is not clear that the Florida Senate is willing yet to place a measure before voters.

Sen. Daniel Webster, a Winter Garden Republican, unveiled a proposal on Wednesday that attempts to defuse the Supreme Court ruling by changing how private school vouchers are funded. He said he does not believe an amendment is necessary.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Miami Herald

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Source: The Miami Herald

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