This article raises key concerns regarding the Mississippi bill allowing public funds to be used for private school education through education savings accounts.
The bill is criticized for not providing transportation for students, which would limit access to low-income families, and for potentially skirting constitutional restrictions on spending public funds for private schools.
The proposal aims to avoid the Mississippi Constitution’s provision prohibiting such spending by directing funds to students instead of directly to private schools.
The article suggests that instead of circumventing the law, a more transparent solution would be for proponents of school choice to amend the state constitution, allowing voters to decide on the issue in a statewide election.
The lack of such an amendment may stem from the uncertainty of how courts would interpret the current law, including a 1941 decision on providing textbooks to private school students.
It also highlights the challenge of obtaining the required two-thirds majority in the legislature for any law involving public funds as donations.
The article critiques the secrecy surrounding the committee vote, with the chair, Rob Roberson, avoiding a roll call to push the bill forward, further indicating reluctance to allow public input through voting.