Poll: More than half of Nebraskans want repeal of Opportunity Scholarships Act

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A new poll indicates that most Nebraskans oppose the state’s Opportunity Scholarships Act.

A Lincoln-based think tank, the OpenSky Policy Institute, released the information this week.

The poll found that 55% of respondents would vote to repeal Legislative Bill 753. It allows for a tax credit for those who donate to funds for private school scholarships.

Gov. Jim Pillen signed the law earlier this year.

According to OpenSky, which is advocating for the repeal, data was collected from 600 likely voters.

The poll gives the nonprofit Support Our Schools Nebraska welcome news as it’s collecting signatures for a referendum vote to repeal the act. 

“We were pretty confident that across the state, people didn’t all support what was on this bill,” said Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association.  

The organization Keep Kids First, which wants to keep the law, doubted the poll.

“It’s the kind of poll that organizations may put out to get favorable results for them,” said Lauren Gage, the campaign manager. “I think there were a lot of leading questions.”

OpenSky said it has been looking at research from other states with similar laws.

Executive Director Rebecca Firestone said it found that those who benefit are “the wealthiest households making more than $200,000 a year.”