The Indiana House of Representatives, passed Senate Bill 334 by a vote of 60-33. The bill now goes back to the Senate for either a concurrence vote on the House amendments or a conference committee.
District 5 Representative Dale DeVon of Granger, House sponsor of the bill, introduced SB 334 on Thursday right after the House resumed business after the inauguration of Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb.
Three Democrats, District 34 Representative Sue Errington of Muncie, District 35 Representative Sue Wright of Bloomington and District 14 Vernon Smith of Gary spoke strongly against SB 334 because they said it will expand the voucher system already in place. District 41 Representative Dr. Tim Brown and DeVon spoke in favor of the bill before the roll call was taken.
The opposition to SB 334 was bipartisan, with six Republicans and 27 Democrats voting no.
Support for the bill was not bipartisan, with 60 Republicans voting yes. Local representatives Dr. Tim Brown and Sharon Negele each voted yes.
Public school advocate Vic Smith made observations about the vote in a March 3 newsletter. Smith has repeatedly said the bill will expand the existing Indiana school choice voucher program and cites the action will reduce funds available to county school districts.
“The leadership of the House, starting with Speaker Bosma, has strongly supported voucher expansion since they took control of the House in 2011,” Smith stated in the email. “It takes great conviction for a Republican to go against leadership and oppose voucher expansion.”
Smith said several Republican Representatives switched their vote from previous votes and he is claiming the House leadership influenced the votes.
Montgomery County school superintendents expressed concern about SB 334 this week saying the bill is part of an ongoing attempt to privatize education which will lead to decline of public education in Indiana.
Brown said the bill will not expand the state’s voucher system.
At 8 a.m. Saturday Brown and Negele, along with State Senator Phil Boots, are scheduled to participate in a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Crawfordsville/Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce in Detchon Hall on the campus of Wabash College. Local education officials are expected to attend the breakfast.
