Opponents of K-12 school choice funding have announced they’re launching a referendum petition drive to place LB1402 on the November ballot, similar to what they previously accomplished with LB753, the Opportunity Scholarship Act.
Members of Support Our Schools, including the Nebraska State Education Association, submitted the necessary paperwork for the new signature gathering drive to the Secretary of State Tuesday afternoon.
LB1402 appropriated $10 million dollars for the State Treasurer to disburse directly to non-profit organizations granting scholarships for kids to attend private or parochial schools.
Opponents say the law, which was passed this year and went into effect with the governor’s signature, is an attempted end-run around last summer’s successful petition drive and denies Nebraskans their right to vote on the issue.
In a statement, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn said the new petition is no surprise with the teacher’s union putting their organization first and kids last as they’re determined to prevent parents from choosing the school that is best for their child.
Linehan continued that the Legislature has taken several steps in the last two years to address the teacher shortage, and it’s time the union do their part by making sure young teachers get paid more so they will stay in the profession.
The signature drive will face a July 3rd deadline to collect valid signatures of 5 percent of registered voters for the question to appear on the November ballot, and 10 percent to suspend the law until the outcome of the general election. In addition, signatures must be collected from 5% of the registered voters in 38 of the 93 Nebraska counties.
