Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s most important legislative achievement to date has been deemed unconstitutional by State Judge Tim Kelley of Baton Rouge.
Jindal's private school tuition voucher program is said to improperly diverts money allocated through Louisiana's public school funding formula to private schools. Kelly also said the law unconstitutionally diverts local tax dollars to private schools.
Kelley ruled in a lawsuit backed by teacher unions and school boards. Proponents of the law claim it is backed by supporters of the status quo.
The lawsuit has sought to shut down the voucher program and other features that diverts money from public schools.
After the ruling John White, Jindal’s Superintendent of Education and U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu issued statements:
White said, "We strongly disagree with the ruling. We are optimistic this decision will be reversed on appeal."
Landrieu said, “It is no surprise that State District Judge Tim Kelley today ruled the unnecessarily aggressive and overreaching statewide voucher program unconstitutional. A strategic use of state-funded vouchers could be appropriate, but this diversion of public education dollars was a step too far and diminishes resources for meaningful reform efforts already underway at the local level. Judge Kelley was correct in setting appropriate limits.”
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