S.C. school voucher bill takes different track in House than Senate
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - For the first time this year, South Carolina lawmakers are hearing from the public on a controversial bill to reinstate the private school voucher program.
That’s despite the bill already being more than halfway to the finish line of the governor’s desk.
Senators ed the school voucher bill last month – moving it over to the House of Representatives – which held its first hearing on the bill Wednesday.
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As it stands now – the bill would give thousands of dollars a year in state money – to up to 15,000 families below an income threshold – to use on certain approved expenses, including private school tuition.
Last year, the state Supreme Court found this type of spending of public dollars directly benefiting private schools violated South Carolina’s constitution.
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The Senate ed a bill that tries to get around that ruling by funding this program with lottery revenues.
But House Republicans aren’t on board with that idea – and instead have indicated they’re considering paying for it with taxpayer money from the state’s general fund – the same funding mechanism the court struck down.
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“The lottery funding introduces a novel concept, and in the world of law, that opens up an entirely different lawsuit scenario. … In my mind, I would rather continue the trajectory we’re on and try to refine the question that was asked of the court prior,” said Rep. Shannon Erickson, a Beaufort Republican who chairs the House Education and Public Works Committee.
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Hanging over this funding debate is the fact the Supreme Court bench that struck down the private-school funding is slightly different than the bench’s makeup now.
So it is possible lawmakers might hope to see a different outcome from a different court.
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