Rally cry from public school supporters: ‘Let us vote!’

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nearly 500 public school supporters gathered at the state capitol Saturday in protest of a school choice bill.

Last year, the legislature passed LB753, a bill to divert tax dollars to pay for private school through a tax credit scheme.

Opponents of LB753 led a successful referendum petition to put repeal of the law on this November’s ballot.

“Last summer, more than 117,000 Nebraskans signed the petition to let voters decide whether the state should use public funds to pay for private schools,” said Jenni Benson, Support Our Schools Nebraska. “Voters in every one of Nebraska’s 93 counites signed that petition.”

On Thursday, senators passed Sen. Lou Ann Linehan’s LB1402, which takes away Nebraskans’ right to vote on LB753 and replaces it with LB1402.

LB1402 imposes a costly new private school voucher scheme on Nebraska taxpayers.

“LB1402 must be challenged,” Benson said. “We are preparing for all options – from launching another petition effort to challenging the constitutionality of this bill.”

It provides 10 million dollars per year for scholarships at private schools, giving students and their families more schooling options.

All that money going toward private schools would mean less funding for public schools.

“Instead of sending public dollars to private schools, which are under no obligation to serve all children, state funds should be used to support the public schools that 9 out of 10 Nebraska students attend,” said Benson.

Benson said they will fight back against the ‘cowardly and cynical’ attempt to deny Nebraskans their right to vote.