Pennsylvania

Toomey Wades into Fight Over $100M Private Schools Bill

What to Know

  • U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey urges Gov. Tom Wolf to not veto a Republican-controlled legislature to expand taxpayer support for private schools.
  • Wolf and other Democratic lawmakers criticize the legislation as doling out money to families of means who don't need the financial help.
  • The program would let corporations and business people direct tens of millions in tax dollars to favored private and religious schools

Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey is wading into a budget-season fight in Pennsylvania and asking Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf not to veto legislation to substantially expand state taxpayer support by $100 million for private and religious schools.

Toomey wrote to Wolf on Monday, saying tens of thousands of children are waiting for the taxpayer-funded aid to help pay their tuition.

The Republican-controlled Legislature sent the bill to Wolf earlier this month, with votes from just four Democrats. Wolf said last week that it doesn't help improve Pennsylvania's public schools and Democratic lawmakers criticize the legislation as doling out money to families of means who don't need the financial help.

The program effectively lets corporations and business people direct tens of millions in tax dollars to favored private and religious schools.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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