Sen. Kirt comments on bill expanding voucher program

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Julia Kirt issued the following statement Thursday after the Senate approved legislation expanding the private school voucher law. Currently, the voucher tax credit can be redirected to cover outstanding debts to the state. If a parent chooses to send a child to private school and receives the voucher but owes back taxes, child support, or a debt from a state school, the tax credit will be applied to reduce the debt. Senate Bill 1477 would disallow the voucher amount from being applied to such outstanding debt, so that those who owe the state could still be eligible to get a full voucher for private school.

“Oklahoma taxpayers deserve fairness under the law. We should not allow expanded use of public money for private school vouchers. Oklahoma taxpayers should not be paying for someone to choose private schools while not paying their own obligations.

“If they owe child support or back taxes, they should take responsibility for what they owe before asking other taxpayers to foot the bill for their child’s private education. I am committed to fighting this steep uphill battle for accountability and transparency of taxpayer funds.”– Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City.

-END-

For more information, contact:  Sen. Julia Kirt at 405-521-5636 or Julia.Kirt@oksenate.gov