Good news from, of all places, Florida: Court rules original school voucher law unconstitutional
Florida’s original voucher law was declared unconstitutional Monday by a state appeals court because it lets students from failing public schools attend private religious schools at taxpayer expense. The 2-1 decision by the 1st District Court of Appeal upholds an August 2002 ruling by a trial judge who said that the law violates a provision of the state constitution that bans the use of tax dollars on religious schools…. Under the 1999 law, the centerpiece of Gov. Jeb Bush’s education policies, students attending public schools that earn failing grades two years out of four are eligible for vouchers to help them attend private schools, religious or otherwise….
Ron Meyer, a lawyer for the opponents, called Monday’s ruling “a monumental win for taxpayers. It means they’ll no longer be forced to pay taxpayer money for unaccountable schools,” Meyer said. “It means that taxpayer money will be used only for public schools. It means that the separation of church and state will be honored.”… “Americans should never be taxed to support religious schools and this decision upholds that vital principle,” Ayesha Khan, legal director for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said in a statement.
This law was such bullshit — fail to appropriately support public schools, then when they fail, say your only choice is to give the money to religious schools. Gee, do you think this gives the Jesus-luvin’ politicians even more reason to fail to support the public schools?