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Pennsylvania, Democrats and school choice

In my earlier post on today’s School Me! interview of Friedman, I made the assertion that Democrats can no longer afford to stonewall school choice.  It seems some Democrats have gotten the message. 

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell just signed into law an expansion of that state’s Education Tax Credit Program, increasing the amount available from $44 million to $54 million.  In the process, he became the fourth Democratic governor to sign school choice legislation this year:

  • Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano signed into law two new voucher programs for disabled and foster kids and let a new corporate scholarship tax credit program and its expansion become law without her signature.

  • Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack signed legislation creating a new individual scholarship tax program. 

  • Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed a bill expanding the Milwaukee voucher program. 

Our thanks go out to Rendell for making this happen.  This year states have approved more than 25,000 new scholarships for children to attend private schools.  A total of eight states that have either new or expanded school choice programs this year.  And just think–it’s barely July!