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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Mike Sturla Chairman, Democratic Policy Committee |
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Democratic Policy Committee explores school vouchers
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22 – The House Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing today at the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia on school vouchers, according to committee Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster.
House Education Committee Democratic Chairman Jim Roebuck, D-Phila., was also in attendance
“With our state facing a $4 billion budget deficit, we need to fully explore the additional burden of vouchers and the resulting higher property taxes,” Sturla said. “The current voucher proposals are more about private and parochial schools hand picking which students get to fill a few vacant slots in their schools at taxpayer expense than it is about parents getting to choose where their kids go to school. Today’s hearing was the first step in our evaluation process.”
"The hearing highlighted for the public the negative impact vouchers would have on taxpayers and the limited options they will provide to students and parents seeking improved educational options," Roebuck said.
Those testifying included Joe Watkins, chairman, Students First; Dr. Leroy Nunery, deputy superintendent/deputy CEO, School District of Philadelphia; Shelly Yanoff, executive director, Public Citizens for Children and Youth; Lawrence Feinberg, co-chairman, Keystone State Education Coalition; Mary Rochford, Archdiocese of Philadelphia superintendent; Susan Gobreski, executive director, Education Voters of Pennsylvania; Dr. Joan Duvall-Flynn, Education Committee Chairman, Pennsylvania State Conference of NAACP Branches; and a panel from REACH Alliance and Foundation: Otto Banks, executive director; Dick Komer, senior attorney, Institute of Justice; and Phillip Murren, Esq. of Ball, Murren & Connell.
For more information about the Policy Committee and hearing materials, visit www.pahouse.com/PolicyCommittee.
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