Nebraska Approves Ballot Measure To Repeal Law Authorizing School Vouchers, Republicans Are Suing

September 7, 2024 Christianists, Republicans

The Christian Post reports:

Nebraska voters will vote this November on a ballot initiative to overturn a legislative measure allowing students to attend private schools using vouchers as questions remain over whether voters have the authority to repeal the law.

In a statement Thursday, the Office of Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Enven announced that the “Private Education Scholarship partial referendum” qualifies for the general election ballot.

The referendum has already collected 68,184 valid signatures, meeting the requirement to secure signatures from at least 5% of registered voters statewide, according to data provided by the Secretary of State’s office.

The Omaha World-Herald reports:

The leading champion of state-backed scholarships for private and parochial school students claimed Friday that scholarship opponents are violating federal laws limiting political activity by nonprofit groups. State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area pointed in particular at the OpenSky Policy Institute and Stand for Schools, along with two of their major funders, the Sherwood Foundation and the Weitz Family Foundation.

Representatives from the four groups targeted said their organizations were complying with federal laws, which allow nonprofits to do some advocacy work. Linehan commented after a legislative study hearing called to “examine nonprofit organizations and the ways they use their nontaxable income for political purposes.” The hearing was held by the Revenue Committee.

Note that Republicans are characterizing the vouchers as “scholarships.” The vouchers bill was signed in April 2024 by Gov. Jim Pillen and was sponsored by state Sen. Lou Ann Linehan [photo]. Linehan is reportedly allied with Betsy DeVos, the arch enemy of all public schools. There’s much more in the tweets below.



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