PHOENIX (AP) — A national group favoring school vouchers and tax credits for private school scholarships reports spending $21,000 in support of Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce in the Nov. 8 recall election.
Washington-based American Federation for the Children filed two independent expenditure reports this month saying it spent the money on mailers in supporter of Pearce.
Pearce has been a supporter of so-called "school choice" measures at the Legislature. He faces charter school executive and fellow Republican Jerry Lewis in the recall election.
Pearce's campaign has not yet filed its pre-election campaign finance report that is due Thursday.
Lewis' campaign reported raising roughly $68,000 and spending $40,000 of that amount through Oct. 19.
Moderation posted at 4:02 pm on Thu, Oct 27, 2011.
Outside interests Mr. Pearce??
RatherBeFishing posted at 2:04 pm on Tue, Oct 25, 2011.
Given the pitiful performance of the public school system, perhaps we need to spend more on private schools. If you care at all about the education of our children, why would you not welcome every possible form of competition?
Or is your concern actually about protecting the unionized education industry?
Supporters of the failing status quo seem to quake in fear at the thought of a parent being allowed an alternative. Want to fix public shools? Attach the education dollars to the student and allow them to choose where to spend those dollars. And make it the same amount that is given to the public schools, not just a fraction. I believe you would see an incredibly positive revolution in the quality of education in America.
Cerulean posted at 1:53 pm on Mon, Oct 24, 2011.
In Arizona, the American Federation for Children support for Pearce translates as more public tax dollars supporting the private school industry. This year middle class and wealthy parents were allowed even larger tax breaks if they send their children to a private school.[sad]