Weighing in on LB 753

I’ve seen enough back-and-forth about the proposed repeal of LB753 that I feel compelled to root for my team. Like most controversial topics, if I arrive at a conclusion too quickly, I’m afraid I haven’t given it enough thought. There are compelling arguments on both sides of 753, not the least of which is that measures desperately needed in densely populated urban areas are not so urgent in rural Nebraska.

Most of our public schools in Nebraska are not rife with crime and underachievement as we have seen in other parts of our country, and our powerful Teachers’ Union is fair to point out that public school budgets are far from over-funded. Most of us who are privileged to have locally managed school systems aren’t drawn to school choice because we are dissatisfied with our local school board, so why should we expand the support of alternatives?

Personally, I like our public school teachers. They perform the noblest function that local government can offer, and most earn less than an average time-share salesman. That admiration is sometimes tempered when I encounter their finished product, but I attribute my disappointment to calling off classes for football games. Teachers, as individuals, however, are good folks, and we are lucky to have them.

I can also appreciate concerns about potential tax revenue benefiting religious institutions. It is entirely correct for us to be cautious when treading on that territory. Churches, however, are adept at following a list of dos and don’ts to retain their tax-free status, and private schools must meet specific requirements to remain accredited. I’m sure good judgment will prevail, but it's a reasonable concern, and with regard to that subtopic, the repeal crowd has my ear.

That said, I am a long-time member of the school-choice camp and think that Nebraska’s modest toe in the water – and it is quite modest – is good legislation. Unlike a voucher system that would divert funds marked for public education, 753 is a tax credit that allows taxpayers to contribute to a “scholarship-granting organization” that exists outside of the public school budget process. Nay-sayers can argue nearly any tax credit is part of a zero-sum game, but 753 does not directly divert a penny from public school budgets.

Let’s not overlook the “need-based” portion of the legislation. Much of the bill reads like an entitlement program with language that details who qualifies, what income levels are considered, and tie-ins to eligibility for the school lunch program. It may read like a typical government subsidy program, but it isn’t driven by additional taxes. Voluntary contributions and tax credits benefit students in need. How cool is that?

As I look at the legislation, I am reminded of 2nd amendment advocates who would like to support common-sense background checks but are afraid of the slippery slope, camel’s nose under the tent, or whatever metaphor one might choose to describe the momentum of change that could follow. I sense that the educational community views this bill the same way. It is a reasonable measure, poses no direct threat to school budgets, and I imagine that many would privately support it, but repeal advocates are primarily concerned by the precedent it might set. They would rather not know how popular the program becomes, which is why they are motivated to nip it in the bud.

It is reasonable for any profession to lobby for their best interests, but what are the arguments on behalf of the students and taxpayers? My belief is that public schools are an essential function in any community, but they should not be monopolies, nor should alternatives be accessible only to the elite. If government can help people in need have a better education with voluntary donations driven by tax credits, that doesn’t strike me as being liberal or conservative. It’s just smart.

Speaking of smart, I need to give a shout-out to the folks at the Gazette. On page four of last Tuesday’s edition, there were three letters related to LB 753. One was from a local subscriber describing an encounter with a canvasser, the second from a retired educator in Lincoln, and a third from State Senator Tom Brewer. Having three points of view on one page about a topic of interest is what local newspapers do best, and like our public school teachers, we are lucky to have them.