October 25, 2011 

Dear Members and Friends,

Here's what FreedomWorks had to say (in quotes) about the upcoming vote (today & tomorrow) on the phony School Choice Bill (SB1).

 
"We can achieve school choice this year, but the time to make your voice heard in Harrisburg is RIGHT NOW." 

Our rebuttal:

SB1 would achieve school choice only for a select few low income 

students who live mostly in the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg school districts--provided their parents make 130% of the poverty level or less (purposely vague language).  Children whose parents are considered working poor or middle income would not qualify. 

A low income student from an urban school district would receive thousands of dollars more than a low income student from another district.  The resulting disparity could be as much as $10,000. 

Rep. Curt Schroder's bill, HB 1768, would provide a $5000 voucher to every child in PA regardless of income level or school district.  His bill, if passed, would achieve real school choice.

"On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee is set to vote on an amended version of SB1 that is being sponsored by Senators Piccola and Williams. If it passes out of committee, SB1 is expected to come up for a floor vote in the full Senate on Wednesday, October 26th."

Our rebuttal:  

Even though SB1 was declared dead in June--like Freddy

Krueger--it has come back to life to haunt us this Halloween season.

 
"This bill will finally put parents and students in charge of Pennsylvania's education system by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit program and instituting Opportunity Scholarships for students trapped in failing schools." 

Our rebuttal: 

SB1 creates another entitlement program.  It would only help low income students attending the Commonwealth's 144 persistently failing public schools. 

Middle income children and those whose parents are considered 

working poor will not be able to escape--the bill would leave roughly 30,000 students in those failing public schools.

Rep. Schroder's bill, HB 1679, would provide $5000 vouchers to all children attending the 144 persistently failing public schools--regardless of income level or county of residence.  If those 144 persistently failing schools close as result--so be it.

The Earned Income Tax Credit program, also known as HB 1330, which has already overwhelmingly passed the PA House, should be introduced separately in the PA Senate (not as part of SB1) and voted on quickly.  

Please call your State Senators and those sitting on the fence (see list below). 

Ask them to support Rep. Schroder's bills--HB 1678 & HB 1679--and not SB1.   Also ask them to support HB 1330 as a separate bill. 

Undecided Republicans:

Jane Earll, 717-787-8927, jearll@pasen.gov

Mary Jo White, 717-787-9684, mwhite@pasen.gov

John Gordner, 717-787-8928, jgordner@pasen.gov 

Gene Yaw, 717-787-3280, gyaw@pasen.gov

Elder Vogel, 717-787-3076, evogel@pasen.gov 

Pat Vance, 717-787-8524, vance@pasen.gov 

Undecided Democrats:

Michael J. Stack, 717-787-9608, stack@pasenate.com 

Shirley M. Kitchen, 717-787-6735, kitchen@pasenate.com

Lawrence M. Farnese Jr., 717-787-5662, lfarnese@pasenate.com

Lisa Boscola, 717-787-4236, boscola@pasenate.com

John Yudichak, 717-787-7105, yudichak@pasenate.com
 

Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation.

On behalf of the Association Board of Directors,

Teri Adams