Harrisburg Democrats should push past partisanship and approve Lifeline Scholarships

It takes guts to do what State Sen. Anthony H. Williams did.

During a recent state Senate Education Committee meeting, Williams delivered a fiery sermon about the sad state of affairs in his district’s public schools, sharing the frustrated pleas of parents seeking better opportunities for their kids.

Williams’ testimony was in support of Senate Bill 795. This bill, sponsored by school choice champion State Sen. Judy Ward, will codify Lifeline Scholarships, referred to as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success, or PASS, Scholarship Program, into law. If approved, SB 795 will provide scholarship accounts to thousands of students in Pennsylvania’s lowest-performing schools. Parents can use these restricted-use accounts to afford a better education for their children.

Williams, a Philadelphia Democrat, was the only member of his party to vote for SB 795.

“If I look like I’m voting different from my party, so be it,” said Williams.

Rather than caving to his party’s interests, Williams is doing what a public servant should do: represent his constituents.

Williams said he stood “with the people who are struggling in this country,” adding that many people in this community “do not have a public school that is providing a quality education.” The senator challenged his colleagues to visit the schools in his district and listen to his constituents’ demands for expanding educational opportunities.

Williams and his constituents aren’t alone.

Nearly eight out of 10 Pennsylvanians support Lifeline Scholarships. Moreover, the backing is bipartisan. Polling shows 78% of Democrats, 68% of independents, and 61% of Republicans support Lifeline Scholarships.

Yet, last year, despite this overwhelming bipartisan voter support, lawmakers still couldn’t make Lifeline Scholarships a reality during the 2023-2024 budget negotiations. Pennsylvania House Democrats dug in their oppositional heels, leading to a six-month impasse.

Nearly eight out of 10 Pennsylvanians support Lifeline Scholarships.

Lacking the courage to stand up to his party, Gov. Josh Shapiro couldn’t (or wouldn’t) get the Democratic-controlled House to hold a vote on Lifeline Scholarships. Ultimately, Shapiro vetoed the budget item, negating months of good-faith negotiations.

Ironically, what started the budget impasse — educational choice — also ended it. In December, lawmakers passed a $150 million increase for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs, which support private donations to K-12 scholarships via tax credits. Once implemented, this unprecedented bump will provide scholarships to an additional 35,000 children, especially those in low-income households.

Indeed, educational freedom doesn’t need to be another prolonged political fight. Instead, Shapiro and the Democrats can finally deliver what so many Pennsylvanians demand, but only if they don’t allow partisanship to get in the way.

Expanded school choice is inevitable in Pennsylvania. The proverbial genie is out of the bottle, poking its head out when Shapiro supported Lifeline Scholarships on the campaign trail and in office.

Despite the claims of some lawmakers that a deal involving Lifeline Scholarships isn’t possible, the Shapiro administration signaled otherwise. Pennsylvania Education Secretary Khalid Mumin, in April, said, “The door’s not closed on it.” To Shapiro, Lifeline Scholarships remain “unfinished business.”

While lawmakers prepare to debate the 2024-2025 budget, countless families demand better educational opportunities. If money weren’t an issue, most Pennsylvanians would choose a private school for their kids. In fact, only one in five parents would send their children to their local district school.

Some might ask, “But what about those left behind?” Sadly, this question is more of an admission, suggesting that some public schools are sinking ships. If so, let’s use everything at our disposal to give a “lifeline” to as many of our underserved kids as possible.

“[Students] need a different path, a different opportunity, just like it was presented to me,” said Williams during his closing comments. “And that path will lead to success stories across this country.”

Lifeline Scholarships are that different path. All it takes is more courageous lawmakers to carve that path for the commonwealth’s most vulnerable kids.

David Hardy is president of Girard College and a distinguished senior fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation.