As you know, the corruption we have witnessed in SC school choice is why we personally got into this political mess … and we keep asking why do these supposedly conservative “Republicans” keep pushing for 100% government control over the purse strings of our private Christian Schools? As we teach …. #FollowTheMoney!
Another ESA Court Loss
Well, technically they had already lost the case on February 10th, 2022 … but the SC Catholic Diocese appealed the matter … and on Thursday the Federal 4th District Court of Appeals ORDERED that the case be dismissed.
The case is Bishop of Charleston v. Adams, or more commonly known as the Blaine Amendment case.
ESA = Education Savings Account, a relatively new and experimental 100% government-run & government funded private school choice option.
QUESTION?: Was the “hope” by legislators that this case may be reversed … and ESAs / 100% government run school choice would be legal in South Carolina “why” they have been sitting on the sidelines avoiding PASSAGE of S 285 … the PACE / ACE Scholarship Bill.
QUESTION?: Does this mean that the recently signed into law (May 5, 2023) Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program (SC’s bastardized version of a 100% government run ESA) will be found unconstitutional as well?
QUESTION?: Have anti-school choice folks been waiting on a ruling in this appeal before filing their legal case against the new Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program law?
Read the language of the SC State Constitution … it is not that complicated.
Stay tuned for more on this subject … but this is another in a series (what, 5 losses now?) in SC Courts & Federal Courts DIRECTLY ON POINT as to the unconstitutionality of 100% government run school choice in South Carolina.
Our opinion … when we have a constitutional and 25+ year proven alternative (S 285, the PACE/ACE Scholarship Bill) and these elected officials keep pushing for an experimental 100% government-run option … it is not about the kids … it is all about their monied special interest backers.
You can read more with our recent report on (not so) Exceptional SC fundraising failures HERE (or click the picture below). South Carolina has the Nation’s only 100% government-run tax credit scholarship program … which of course, like too many educational initiatives in SC, is the worst rated school choice program in the Nation. Aren’t we tired of being last!?!?!
FIRST STEPS???
FLASHBACK A FEW WEEKS: And if you think 100% government control being pushed by our conservate SC State Legislators and “Republican” leadership is unusual … see our June 20th article about the First Steps “Accountability” bill that was passed just last month.
This one did not hit people’s radar until after it was signed into law … but all the legislators supported it … and the changes are scary.
We have asked a few legislators “why?” … so stay tuned as we will have more on this soon too.
mySCGOP.news, June 20, 2023: Here are a couple of “red flags” that got us to take a look at H 4023, the First Steps Fiscal Accountability Bill signed into law on June 19th by Governor McMaster … and boy were we shocked with what we found!!! [CONTINUE READING]