House Democratic members condemn the lack of transparency by Republican leaders today, as they introduced a floor amendment to SB 561, yet another pay raise tied to voucher schemes included in HB 1935 and HB 2775.
“Republican leadership through a series of tricks, procedures and ‘bill shucking’ have handcuffed across-the-board teacher pay raises to expansion of vouchers schemes to fund private schools,” said House Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa.
“Teachers deserve a clean pay raise without ties to private school vouchers. Today’s passage of SB561 says we as a legislature value private schools first. There is no teacher pay raise without private school vouchers,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater.
“We know that Oklahomans are counting on solutions so that all families can send their children to great public schools. Public dollars should go to public schools. The House Republicans’ education plan moves hundreds of millions of dollars in funding away from public schools to private schools in exchange for very modest teacher pay raises,” said House Democratic Leader Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City.
Leader Munson said House Democrats continue to support the Oklahoma Kids First plan which calls for $800 million to be spent on smaller class sizes, clean teacher pay raises and wrap-around supports for students including mental health counselors and safer classrooms.
“We have the funding to really improve public education in Oklahoma. This is a real game-changing moment, and we should not divert funds away from the 700,000 students in public schools to fund private schools. To hold hostage money for our public schools as the carrot to get vouchers across the line is embarrassing and telling. There is a better way,” said Assistant House Democratic Leader Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa.
