On a second try, with debate nearly as heated as the first time, the House narrowly approved the $3.4 billion school funding plan, 51-49, today. The Senate earlier passed the Minimum Foundation Program resolution, 24-15. The conference committee had stripped a House amendment that removed a provision to include in the MFP costs for advanced high school seniors taking college courses. But the real source of discontent was directed at broader changes in education policy passed earlier this session. As on Friday, there was opposition today to amounts diverted from local schools to pay for vouchers for students to attend private schools. Opponents cited examples of a church school in Ruston that seeks to triple its enrollment with vouchers, despite the fact that it hasn’t the classrooms and teachers to handle the load. Others cited an Islamic school in New Orleans applying for 38 voucher slots, and they razzed Education Chairman Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, when he said the Islamic school had withdrawn its application. “Once we open this up, we won’t be able to turn anyone down,” warned Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin. “It will be the Branch Davidians and the Church of Scientology the next year.” Read the full column here for additional coverage on the school funding plan, hawks and marshmallows, and the capital outlay bill—the last major item taken up on this last day of the 2012 legislative session.
(John Maginnis has been publishing a daily update throughout the legislative session on Daily Report PM. The report is also available to LaPolitics Weekly subscribers on the Subscribers Only page at LaPolitics.com. Registration is available on the homepage. Though Maginnis’ Capitol Views column will end with the session, his columns will continue to be featured on Daily Report on Tuesday and Friday mornings.)
Louisiana Public Broadcasting is providing a daily video update featuring highlights of the session, which you can see beginning at 6 p.m. here.
