Rumor has it that a highly popular bill is going to be hijacked with language establishing a process to allow North Carolina to adopt federal school vouchers. Federal vouchers are said to be on a "nonpublished" agenda that will be taken up when legislators return to Raleigh on Tuesday, July 29th. The federal voucher program was signed into law in July as part of the federal budget bill. Now states have to decide whether to adopt it.
How can lawmakers hijack a bill? They just add the new, nonrelated language (a rider) to a current, existing bill such as HB87, which is scheduled for a vote on Tuesday. This highly divisive practice of adding a "rider" to an existing bill lacks transparency and fairness. Simply put, this process undermines the overall integrity of the legislative process. It is not allowed in some states.
House Bill 87 “Cell-phone free education” requires that “Governing bodies of public school units shall adopt a cell phone-free education policy to eliminate or severely restrict student access to cell phones during instructional time.” It is a very popular, bipartisan bill that passed the House with a 116-1 vote and strong public support.
If lawmakers add federal voucher legislation to the cell phone bill, they will have effectively hijacked HB87. Lawmakers know that federal vouchers would face strong opposition if presented in a stand-alone bill, so they are adding it to a very popular bipartisan cell phone bill that has already passed through the House.
Hijacking a popular bill with objectionable new language increases the likelihood that the new “controversial addition” will be passed without public comment, discussion or notice.
Stealth Legislation: HB87 is on the Senate calendar for consideration; federal private school vouchers are not on the calendar. No warning is being given to public school advocates, voters, or legislators about this addition, which bypasses public scrutiny and legislative debate on a highly controversial issue.
Legislators who supported HB 87 in its original form may now be forced to vote against it because it contains harmful provisions that expand vouchers in the state.
HB87 (Cell Phone-Free Education) is scheduled to be addressed by the Senate Finance Committee at NOON on Tuesday, July 29th - Live Stream: Room 544 LOB.
Thirty minutes later, HB87 is scheduled at the Senate Rules and Operations Committee - Live stream: Room 1027/1128 LB.
DON’T HIJACK HB87: Please contact members of the Finance Committee and the Rules and Operations Committee and let them know that hijacking a bill is unethical and unjust. Tell them that adding a new federal tax credit voucher program which has the potential for exacerbating inequalities, undermining public education, and violating principles of religious freedom should not be considered without the public and every legislative member being involved in an open, transparent process.
Contact Senate Finance Committee HERE and Senate Rules Committee HERE. Each committee has many members. The chairs/vice chair are listed below.
Senate Finance
Senate Rules and Operations
