Four bills have been drafted as part of a “Voucher Accountability to Protect Property Taxpayers” package sponsored by several state legislators.
The bill sponsors — Reps. Sondy Pope (D-Mount Horeb) and Dave Considine (D-Baraboo); and, Sens. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Janet Bewley (D-Mason) — are long-time opponents of Parental Choice in education. There are only a few days left that the legislature can act before its session ends so the legislative clock is against them as they are just now circulating the bills for co-sponsorship.
In addition to having no time for the proposals to move through the lengthy legislative process, the bills have little chance of passage because both the Senate and Assembly are under the leadership — and held by a majority — of pro-Parental Choice legislators.
Bills that are introduced this late in the session with such a dismal chance of passage are often timed for other political objectives. In this case, one could surmise these bills are being used to influence the narrative on how property taxes are affected by vouchers just when property tax bills are due.
And, the bills will help fire-up anti-Parental Choice voters as the state moves into the 2020 election cycle and prepares to host the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee in July.
If you want to learn more about the impact of vouchers on state spending and student achievement, read these resources below:
