Mississippi school choice bill dies in Senate committee
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Senate Education Committee killed House Bill 2 on Tuesday night after a meeting that lasted less than two minutes, ending the latest attempt at school choice legislation in the state.
The bill contained multiple education reforms, but vouchers allowing public dollars to go to private schools became the main sticking point.
Sen. Brice Wiggins, who serves on the Senate Education Committee, said the Senate had already approved some of the bill’s other provisions separately.
“There’s different ways to skin a cat. And there were issues with HB 2. And let’s be clear, this happens every year. Legislation dies. And there’s an old saying, it’s not dead until it’s dead, dead, dead,” Wiggins said.
The Senate opposed vouchers with concerns that private schools wouldn’t have the same accountability measures as public schools.
“The Senate wanted to be strong in terms of letting people know where we are. I think that has happened,” Wiggins said.
Governor criticizes fellow Republicans
The committee’s action sparked online backlash, including from the governor, who said he had never been more disappointed in elected officials and that they “killed a Republican legislative priority.”
Rep. Stacey Hobgood-Wilkes, one of 17 Republicans who voted against House Bill 2 last month, responded to the governor’s criticism.
“Perhaps he should have been more focused on the ice storm and been prepared for that than bashing fellow Republicans,” Hobgood-Wilkes said.
She said the majority of people in her district who contacted her opposed the bill. Hobgood-Wilkes said she would rather see each issue debated individually than combined into a large bill.
“As we’re watching the Mississippi Miracle across the nation, we need to sit back and watch other states where it plays out before we jump on the bandwagon,” she said of some choice measures.
Education groups monitor situation
Dr. Darein Spann, president of the Mississippi Association of Educators, said his organization will continue monitoring the issue.
“We will continue to follow it to make sure that it does stay dead,” Spann said.
He said he hopes issues like teacher pay raises don’t get caught up in political maneuvering at the end of the legislative session.
“Make sure that the good bills that support public education are able to come out of each chamber and get to the governor for a signature,” Spann said.
The House Speaker has not indicated how he will advance the issue, but said school choice won’t go away.
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