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Jindal Reform Routes Tax Dollars to Religious Schools
Of the 125 schools approved to accept taxpayer funds under Louisiana’s new school voucher law, 115 (92%) are affiliated with a church or other religious organization.
From Americans United:
Louisiana has an incredibly bad record when it comes to taxpayer aid to religious schools.
Back in the 1920s, Gov. Huey Long pushed a bill through the legislature giving textbooks to Catholic schools at taxpayer expense. The state has been the site of repeated efforts to siphon tax dollars away from public schools into the coffers of religious schools ever since.
The Jindal administration released the list of schools which will participate in the voucher program starting this fall. Nine are private yet not directly connected with a religious purpose, and one is a public school. Almost all are religious and located in urban areas along the I-10 corridor. Here’s some additional data:
- 380,000 = Total estimated eligible students statewide
- 7,450 = Total number of slots
- 125 = Total number of participating schools
- 115 = Religious private schools
- 9 = Non-religious private schools
- 1 = public school
- ~12 = Participating schools in North & Central Louisiana
- 33 = Parishes with approved schools
- $8,500 = taxpayer money per voucher
“I can tell you that this is not a Louisiana agenda. This is a national agenda to do away with public education as we know it.” Rep. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs
Apart from potential lawsuits which would challenge the vouchers on religious grounds, there may be more legal battles on the horizon for Jindal’s vouchers. The Louisiana Federation of Teachers opposed the voucher program citing the unconstitutional routing of public Minimum Funding Program (MFP) dollars into private hands. The union, led by President Steve Monaghan, has promised a lawsuit against the state on these grounds.
Another interesting development comes from one of the most conservative parts of the state. The St. Tammany Parish School Board approved a resolution to possibly challenge the education reform package on several constitutional grounds, in coordination with the Louisiana School Board Association and other school boards across the state. One of the principal grounds is also the routing of public school MFP funding into private schools – something that deprives school boards of much-needed funds. The folks in St. Tammany say that suing the state is the only way they can fight to save their public school system.
Jindal Again Mocked After Speech To Out-Of-State Republicans
We all remember the awful beating Jindal took after his national debut. During his response to President Obama in 2009, Jindal was mercilessly mocked both on the content of the speech, and his bizarre presentation.
Unfortunately for Bobby, his national aspirations were slapped back again last night:
La. Gov. Jindal finds New York crowd big, but not easy
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, sometimes mentioned as a candidate for vice president, didn’t exactly wow the 700 or so gathered for the annual New York Republican dinner at the midtown Sheraton.
His keynote speech started out well enough, many Republicans said, but droned on far too long. He told a stale joke (My father walked to school. Uphill. Both ways.) then went deep into the weeds of the Bayou State’s financials — focusing at one point on “UAL” debt.
He received mild, occasional applause but, all the time, the volume of conversation at the 100 or so tables rose noticeably as attention waned.
And, after a dinner break and Jindal’s departure, the next two speakers made pointed references. “I’m going to speak a little shorter than the prior speaker,” Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) said — generating applause.
“My father gave me some great advice, too,” Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R-Canandaigua), said referring to a part of Jindal’s speech. “Be brief and be gone.”
Jindal’s team placed copies of his book, “Leadership and Crisis,” on the chairs throughout the Sheraton ballroom. Afterward, some New York Republicans joked about trying to give their copy away.
He might be Babe Ruth in Louisiana’s minor league, but he can’t hit a lick in the majors.
Naming Names, Senate Edition
(Reposted and updated to reflect the Senate’s shameful vote.)
Bobby Jindal’s school vouchers bill passed the Louisiana State Senate easily - see the roll call vote to know how your legislator voted.
This bill is the opposite of progress - yet 6 Senate “Democrats” voted in favor. We don’t know what motivated them, but we can guess.
Politics. Money. Re-election. Selfishness. Fear. General spinelessness. Any other guesses?
Whatever it was, it wasn’t their conscience. No one with a good conscience can vote for a bill that robs money from the public education system in Louisiana – that gives taxpayer-funded handouts to the rich and makes inflated promises of hope to the poor. This vote is inexcusable.
Without further adieu, let’s see the roll call of Democrats who gave Bobby Jindal a sweeping victory (and dealt a major blow to our public schools) on his landmark education reform legislation.
BOBBY JINDAL DEMOCRATS
Troy Brown of Napoleonville
Elbert L. Guillory of Opelousas
David R. Heitmeier of New Orleans
Jean-Paul J. Morrell of New Orleans
Gary Smith of Norco
Greg Tarver of Shreveport
Naming Names
Bobby Jindal’s school vouchers bill passed the Louisiana House late into the night after 12 hours of debate – see the roll call vote to know how your legislator voted (link updated).
This bill is the opposite of progress – yet 12 “Democrats” voted in favor. We don’t know what motivated them, but we can guess.
Politics. Money. Re-election. Selfishness. Fear. General spinelessness. Any other guesses?
Whatever it was, it wasn’t their conscience. No one with a good conscience can vote for a bill that robs money from the public education system in Louisiana – that gives taxpayer-funded handouts to the rich and makes inflated promises of hope to the poor. This vote is inexcusable.
Without further adieu, let’s see the roll call of Democrats who sided with Bobby Jindal (and against public schools) on this landmark education reform legislation.
