In a nutshell, Senate Bill 407 by Senator Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, would expand the annual cap on tax credits available through the Opportunity Scholarship Act from $5 million to $80 million. Tax credits for donations to private schools that fund school vouchers to qualifying students would expand to $40 million and tax credits for donations to "educational improvement organizations" would expand to $40 million.
Senate Bill 407, if approved, would significantly increase the tax credits allowed for donors to non-profits that provide private school vouchers. Tuition tax credits are tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, shifting the burden of funding our public schools to other taxpayers. In just two years' time, Chris, Oklahoma would forego up to $160 million in potential revenue, while education funding in Oklahoma remains more than $1,100 per student behind the regional average - Paul.
Senate Bill 407 passed in the Senate Appropriations Committee on a 15 Yes votes and 7 No votes. While those who voted No have the insight provided above and more, the Yes voters would like to provide more tax dollars to their wealthy friends. One or two of the Yes voters, however, gave other reasons why they voted affirmative. One reason for an affirmative vote was that Senator Rader (the bill's author) said he would change it, in exchange for a Yes vote. Rader then said he would even include public schools as beneficiaries of the tax-credit expansion, in exchange for a Yes vote. The only problem with this change... is the only public schools which would be in for a windfall would be the three privately managed virtual charter schools in Oklahoma and a few brick and mortar charter schools and here's why: Several brick and mortar charter schools such as Carlton Landing were developed by millionaires who have donated heavily to their upstart charters. What better way to get their money back but through tax credits? In addition, the three "privately managed" public virtual charter schools have received "donations" from sponsoring corporations and wealthy millionaires for operational expenses. What better way for corporations to be more profitable than to receive tax credits? Senator Scott and Senator Kidd - Tax credits would not benefit traditional public schools in any way, shape, or form!
The question now becomes: Who benefits from increasing tax credits by 1,600% for the Oklahoma Scholarship Fund? Business Dictionary.com defines a conflict of interest as "A situation that has the potential to undermine the impartiality of a person because of the possibility of a clash between the person's self-interest and ... public interest." In addition, the Business Dictionary uses conflict of interest in a sentence: When a government official has a personal monetary interest in a matter up for a vote, it is best for the official to abstain from voting to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. The fact of the matter is that Senator Julie Daniels: 1) voted "yes" on Senate Bill 407. 2) received $43,000 in dark money support from Stand for Children (a Betsy DeVos pro-voucher group) and Citizens United in 2016. 3) is related to Charlie Daniels, the president of the Oklahoma Scholarship Fund, which will be the recipient of a windfall of tax dollars if SB 407 passes. I don't know if Senator Daniels has a conflict of interest in voting for SB 407, but if it walks like a duck...
It's a fact that all senators and representatives say they support our public school students. It's also a fact that to truly delineate the difference between those who do and those who don't is to watch how they vote. No excuses or explanations needed.
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