We may look back at this as the least-shocking story of the 2023 legislative session, but it needs to continually be called out.
Democrats in the Iowa legislature, who regardless of policy disagreements should find value in presenting truthful information, are continuing to lie to Iowans when it comes to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Students First Act. The bill proposes Education Savings Accounts for Iowa families.
The bill does not propose any sort of “voucher.” At all. In fact, I performed a search for the word voucher on House Study Bill 1.
In the spirit of bipartisanship, I’m even going to round the results up. Unfortunately for Democrats, the result is that the word “voucher” appears in the bill…well, it doesn’t. It’s not in there. You can look high and low, but you will not find it.
Yet here we are…
https://twitter.com/IowaSenate/status/1613361087545499649
Help save Iowa public schools from being gutted with Governor Reynolds' voucher bill. Details below on how to attend tomorrow's public subcommittee meeting (online or in person) and share your thoughts. https://t.co/KwmHw7r38k
— Janet Petersen (@janet4iowa) January 11, 2023
If you can’t attend Thursday’s voucher subcommittee, or if you can’t…
Please contact members of the Senate and House (especially Republican members) to share your thoughts! https://t.co/eCJGKr5unW
— Sarah Trone Garriott (@SarahforIowa) January 11, 2023
https://twitter.com/janice4iowa/status/1613277578319613970
Public money is for public schools. pic.twitter.com/O5yflvxHox
— Claire Celsi (@SenClaireCelsi) January 11, 2023
The great theft from Public Schools https://t.co/yNm7aVQw9B via @YouTube
Say no to vouchers
— Molly Donahue (@MDonahueforIA) January 11, 2023
If you're in Iowa and oppose putting more public money into private schools, contact your state representative or state senator! The voucher bill is being pushed through at the beginning of session!
— Monica Kurth (@kurth_monica) January 11, 2023
#WeChoosePublicSchools Our public school system is designed for the benefit of society of a whole. THAT is why it's publicly funded. pic.twitter.com/W9ztay6sST
— Rep. Elinor A. Levin (@LevinforIowa) January 11, 2023
There are significant differences between vouchers and Education Savings Accounts. They are not the same thing.
But the word “voucher” is a polarizing political buzzword and it is the route Democrats in the Iowa legislature want to go when debating the issue of school choice.
The problem is they aren’t debating the actual issue of school choice as presented in the bill.
Polling shows 70 percent of Iowans support creating Education Savings Accounts. Maybe that’s why Democrats refuse to call them what they are.
Anyone who shows up at a subcommittee meeting or committee meeting to discuss “vouchers” should be cut off and informed they are at the wrong meeting and their comments are not germane to the bill.
Because the Students First Act doesn’t create vouchers — it creates Education Savings Accounts.
Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by this. After all, it was revealed last year that a Supreme Court Justice appointed by a Democrat President couldn’t even offer a definition for the word “woman.”
But it should be a basic expectation of an elected official that they will be honest when discussing proposed laws with their constituents.
Unfortunately, Iowa Democrats don’t seem to care.
Maybe that’s why there are 98 Republicans in the Iowa legislature and 52 Democrats.
