The Pennsylvania State Senate, yesterday, Oct. 26, passed SB 1, 27-22 sending it to the State House.
The vote was mostly along party-lines in the Republican-controlled institution with Democrat Daylin Leach (D-17) leading the opposition with claims that the bill will take money from poor school districts. He failed to note, however, that the money taken will then been given to the families of the poor children. He attempted to add an amendment prohibiting private schools from discriminating due to sexual orientation. It failed.
Democrat Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, however, who represents the 8th District which consists of a large section of southwest Philadelphia and a large section of southeast Delaware County, made an impassioned defense of the bill
Republicans who voted against the bill were Stewart Greenleaf of the 12th District; Lisa Baker of the 20th District; John Gordner of the 27th District; Pat Vance of the 31st District; and Elder Vogel of the 47th District.
Democrats who voted for the bill were Williams; LeAnna Washington of the 4th District; and Andy Dinniman of the 19th District.
Not voting was Republican John Pippy of the 37th District.
The bill offers vouchers ranging from $5,765 to $13,905 to families with incomes of $29,000 whose children attend the 5 percent worst performing schools in the state that would allow them to transfer their children to private or parochial schools. In the second year, the vouchers would also be offered to low-income students already attending private schools.
The bill also raises of the limit on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (E.I.T.C.) from $75 million to $100 million for next two school years to $125 million for 2014-2015. Children from middle class families in all school districts are eligible for E.I.T.C. scholarships.
Gov. Tom Corbett will almost certainly sign the bill if the House should pass it.