Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp expressed support for a measure to expand funding for private school vouchers after the legislation passed the Senate.
Kemp passed Senate Bill 233 on Monday. It was the first time he had publicly supported the legislative effort to expand school choice in the Peach State. The bill would provide an annual $6,500 voucher for student education.
In a Monday interview with Atlanta radio host Erick Erickson, the governor said the legislation was a “good law” and called on House lawmakers to pass the bill before the legislative session ends on Wednesday.
“I’m hopeful that we can get this across the finish line,” said Kemp. “I think they’ve done a really good job with legislation. They’ve also listened to a lot of the critics out there and taken some of their suggestions about accountability and other things.”
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Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp expressed support for a measure to expand funding for private school vouchers. (Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“It just needs to get the votes in the House, and I feel like they can do that,” he continued.
The governor also attended the Georgia House closed-door GOP caucus meeting on Tuesday to express his “full support” for legislation to expand funding for private school vouchers, according to one attendee, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Since his re-election, the governor had largely taken a behind-the-scenes look at state legislatures, opting to keep his position on legislative texts under wraps. But the passage of Senate Bill 233 on Monday just before the end of the legislative session could signal that he wants to be more aggressive in moving the measure forward.
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Kemp passed Senate Bill 233 on Monday, marking the first time he has publicly supported the legislative effort to expand school choice in the Peach State. (Megan Varner/Getty Images)
A group of lawmakers, mostly made up of Republicans, backed a measure this year to give each student a $6,500 voucher to spend on private or homeschooling to expand families’ educational options outside of public schools.
The state would deduct public school funding for any student who takes their education dollars elsewhere.
Opponents of the bill say the vouchers would hurt local public school systems that need additional funding, especially those in poorer communities.
Last year, a similar proposal for a $6,000 voucher for a private school was not passed.
Senate Bill 233 would provide a $6,500 annual voucher for college students’ education. (Photographer: Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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But this year’s measure has gained momentum as it already passed the Senate by a 33-23 vote earlier this month and is now in the hands of House lawmakers. Both chambers have a Republican majority.
The bill stalled in the House last week, but could receive another vote before the legislature ends on Wednesday.
“We remain vigilant and strongly advocate choice in education,” said Kemp.
