Democrat Pittman Breaks Ranks To Propel School Choice Bill
Oklahoma City Democrat helps advance voucher bill for urban students
by Ben Felder, The Oklahoman
A Democratic state senator helped push a school voucher bill out of committee Monday, saying the legislation “gave me pause,” but was ultimately best for the kids in her northeast Oklahoma City district.
Senate Bill 560, authored by Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, seeks to give students in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas access to parts of their state education funding for use at private schools, with low-income students receiving the highest amount.
The bill narrowly passed out of the Senate education committee with a 9-7 vote, including a yes vote from Sen. Anastasia Pittman, D-Oklahoma City.
“I am the senator that has the homeless children in her district; I have the children in foster care in my district; I have the schools that are failing in my district,” Pittman said after the committee meeting.