Idaho Joint Democratic Caucus
Idaho House and Senate Democrats Respond to Announcement of a Tax Credit Voucher Scheme
On Friday, Idaho Senators Den Hartog and Grow and Idaho House Rep. Horman announced a proposal for a voucher tax credit bill. The proposal will skim state coffers to provide handouts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy, while doing nothing to address crumbling school infrastructure.
House Assistant Minority Leader Lauren Necochea/(D-Boise) expressed objection to the proposed bill citing its diversion of funds from much needed public school investment,
“At a time when our public school infrastructure is crumbling and in disrepair due to a lack of investment, a proposal to send funds to private and religious schools is unacceptable. It’s unfair to ask students to contend with overcrowded classrooms and leaky roofs. It’s also unsafe. Last year, a fire completely destroyed an entire wing of Highland High School in Pocatello, due to faulty electrical wiring that went neglected.”
Representative Necochea also stressed that vouchers send resources to very few Idahoans at the expense of families with students attending rural, underfunded, and neglected public schools,
“For many Idahoans outside of Boise, the only school that is available to their children is their local public schools. This bill hurts our ability to address the needs of rural children who face underfunded schools in disrepair, all to subsidize private, religious, and for-profit institutions.”
Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow/(D-Boise) shared Representative Necochea’s sentiment and expressed concerns about the lack of accountability of taxpayer funds.
“Polling shows us how unpopular vouchers are. A small minority – only 35% – of Idahoans support vouchers because they drain resources from our public schools with no accountability for taxpayer dollars. This is a fringe initiative funded by deep out-of-state pockets that neglects the interest of Idaho students and will weaken our public schools.”
Senator Wintrow also shared that the proposal is a blatant attempt to push through unpopular legislation that could not make it through the proper channels.
“This voucher tax credit proposal is a clear end-run around the education committee that rejected voucher schemes last year because they are bad for students. Whether the Tax Commission or another agency cuts the check for vouchers, they are still a bad idea and poor use of our precious, limited public dollars.”
For more information and interview requests, contact:
Liam Brucker-Casey, Communications Director, Idaho House and Senate Democrats
(619) 316-4209
liam@idahodlcc.org