Georgia Republicans had their feelings hurt by a mail flyer campaign. Georgia children will now pay the price.
Georgia Republicans withdrew a bill that would have established a $6,000-per-student voucher program, expanding school choice in the state. Why? Because they disapproved of a flyer campaign by the American Federation for Children, an organization that supports school choice. According to Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, the flyer campaign attacked Georgia Republicans “very viciously.”
The fliers called on some Republicans not to “give in to the radical Left” and advised people to contact the office of those lawmakers. Why this was so offensive is not entirely clear because it was not clear whether the bill would pass. Ralston himself said it was going to face a “competitive vote,” meaning the group was trying to tip the scale and wasn’t just pestering Republicans for no reason.
But Georgia Republicans apparently decided that the act was so offensive that they would simply tank the bill. “That voucher legislation will not move at all in the Georgia House of Representatives this year, period,” Ralston said.
Georgia Republicans had voted against school choice bills in the past, but this excuse is extraordinarily weak and suggests hidden motives. Because some politicians had their feelings hurt, children and parents will once again be put last. Maybe the campaign was stupid, pointless, and counterproductive. But in what way does hurting the pride of a few politicians justify depriving parents of options when it comes to their children’s education?
This is far worse than Utah GOP Gov. Spencer Cox using school choice as a political tool for teachers’ salary negotiations. Georgia Republicans, who have repeatedly failed to pass similar versions of the current bill, are offended that a group is pushing them finally to pass one. They are so offended that they are simply taking their ball and going home. The bill isn’t being dropped because of negotiations or logistical concerns or other priorities: It’s being dropped because of spite.
Ensuring that parents have multiple options and opportunities for their children’s education should be a top Republican priority moving forward. It is both good policy and good politics because it weakens a major Democratic interest group (teachers unions) and helps increase Republican support among nonwhite voters.
Instead, Georgia Republicans think their own pride should come first and that children should come last. It is a remarkable failure of governance, even if the hurt feelings explanation is more than just a cover story. This should be completely unacceptable for GOP voters.
