Oklahoman: Vote On OK ESA Legislation Runs Counter To GOP Ideals
Vote on Oklahoma ESA legislation runs counter to GOP ideals
by The Oklahoman Editorial Board
Too often, politicians either wave a finger in the air and fall in line with the crowd, regardless of policy merit, or they become complacent and act as though the public won’t notice contradictions between their campaign rhetoric and actual record.
A House committee’s recent failure to pass Education Savings Accounts legislation is an example of the latter.
ESAs would allow Oklahoma parents to receive a debit card with a share of the state aid allocated for a child’s education. That money could then be used for the child’s education, including private school tuition. Polling shows that ESAs are popular among virtually all groups, but particularly among parents and Republican primary voters.
Thus, ESA opposition could easily cost a Republican lawmaker his job. Yet five Republicans joined with liberal Democrats in opposing an ESA bill in committee, where the final vote was 9-9.