The coalition that conducted a successful petition drive last year to put repeal of a bill providing state tax credits for donations toward scholarships for private schools are launching a similar drive against the new law that replaced the first
Representatives of Support Our Schools Nebraska and its largest member, the Nebraska State Education Association – the state teacher’s union – turned in the petition language to start gathering signatures to the Secretary of State’s office yesterday.
They face a tight timeline to get enough signatures to put the initiative on the ballot – just 90 days after the end of the legislative session last month or about mid-July. They need about 61,000 valid signatures, but did collect 117,000 last year.
Organizers say they have already started receiving commitments from many of the 1,800 people who helped circulate the first petition
While the law targeted by the first petition used tax credits to fund scholarships to private schools, the new law – LB 1402 – directly gives state money to parents of qualifying students to attend private schools.
State Senator Lou Ann Linehan, who sponsored LB 1402, freely admitted it was aimed at avoiding the referendum on the earlier law, and opponents continue to hammer on that point.
Outgoing teachers union president Jenni Benson told a rally for the new petition drive that “LB1402 was passed to silence voters, and their voices need to be heard and respected.”
Because one provision of LB 1402 repeals last year’s law, Secretary of State Bob Evnen is expected to take the first initiative off the ballot as being moot.
Repealing 1402 in its entirety would bring back the earlier law, so Incoming union president Tim Royers says the new repeal petition leaves intact the part of 1402 that repeals the old law. Royers says they may also challenge 1402 in court.