VOUCHER SCHOOL PLAN MIGHT BE TOUGH SELL FOR WALKER
Thursday, May 12th, 2011 -- 1:47 PM
Even high-ranking members of the Governor?s own party say they were taken by surprise by Gov. Walker?s proposal to expand the state's voucher school program.At a conference this week in Washington D.C., Walker announced plans to seek taxpayer money for students in private schools in three new Wisconsin cities.
Mike Ellis, GOP president of the state Senate, said Wednesday he was concerned about the push to expand the school voucher program into Green Bay, Racine and Beloit.
He also said he had concerns about a budget provision that would eliminate income limits in Milwaukee's school choice program. The program was initially set up to allow poor kids to get vouchers to attend private schools, but Walker wants even wealthy kids to be able to get the taxpayer-funded subsidies.
Ellis told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was ?amazed? by the proposal and had to do some ?serious thinking? about the concept.
Rep. Scott Suder has not returned calls seeking comment.
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