2010 Legislative session ends in disappointment for Maryland private schools
JewishByte Baltimore - The hopes of many private schools across Maryland were dashed once again by the Maryland General Assembly. After 90 days in the 2010 legislative session in the Maryland General Assembly the BOAST legislation at points looked destined to pass. All that ended last night in the Ways and Means Committee in a 14-7 unfavorable vote.
Many groups lobbied both for and against the bill on various grounds. Agudath Israel and the Orthodox Union have lobbied vigorously for passage of the bill. In fact Agudath Israel and Agudath Israel of Maryland have been strong supporters for many years when it came to legislation aimed at reducing the unfair disadvantage that private schools in Maryland face. Mostly the powerful teachers unions have lobbied against passage of the BOAST bill, saying it would give an unfair advantage to private schools.
Both Agudath Israel of Maryland and the Orthodox Union issued statements last night after the disappointing vote in the Ways and Means Committee. Both organizations expressed a commitment to continue the legislative battle for the next Maryland General Assembly session in 2011.
Below are the statements issued by Agudath Israel of Maryland and the Orthodox Union, respectively.
Dear friends,
Moments ago, with the 2010 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly in its final hour, the hopes of Maryland’s 127,000 nonpublic schools students and their families of getting the assistance for which we all so greatly hoped – ended in the Ways and Means Committee in a 14-7 unfavorable vote.
In yet another unfortunate end to the 90 days of nonstop legislative efforts on the part of the dedicated members of the BOAST (Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers) Coalition and other community leaders, the leadership of the House of Delegates and Ways and Means Committee leadership decided that stemming the tide of private school closures and the influx of students into the overburdened public schools as its direct result – is not a legitimate concern of theirs. They additionally fail to acknowledge the good of the taxpayer who sees no return on his investment.
We are saddened by this result but are nonetheless determined to come back and battle again next year. We hope the elections in November will smile upon us and provide us with balanced House leadership and committees that can provide the constituents of this great state a fair shot at creating and instituting programs – such as BOAST – that will make our Maryland that much greater.
On behalf of the coalition, I greatly applaud the efforts of the thousands of our constituents who took from their precious time to call, write, and email the delegates and senators of their home districts and beyond seeking to secure the support we needed to make a successful run. These grassroots efforts have made us into a stronger constituency that can mobilize and band together in advocating for its interests and protecting its freedoms.
Wishing you my very best,
Ariel Sadwin
.
The Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization is disappointed that the BOAST education tax credit failed to pass the Maryland General Assembly this year. Though it passed the Senate in a 30-17 vote and had the public support of Governor O’Malley, who penned a letter urging its passage, the House Ways & Means Committee voted down the bill in a 14-7 vote late last night.
BOAST was modeled on successful tax credit programs in other states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island that raise tens of millions of dollars annually for both public and nonpublic schools. It was supported by a wide ranging alliance, including the Maryland Catholic Conference, prominent business leaders and the entire Orthodox Jewish community.
Howie Beigelman, Deputy Director of Public Policy stated:
“We would have liked to see BOAST get an up or down vote in the full House. This is a sad day for overburdened parents and families, for struggling schools and for the taxpayers of Maryland.”
Story by AJ Bulua – for JewishByte.info. He can be reached via email aj@jewishbyte.info.
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Why is this a surprise?what do you expect from such a large group of anti religious left wingers beholden to the teachers union.I hope this serves as lesson to these organizations that they shouldn’t delude themselves into thinking that you can work with liberal democrats like O’Malley and his ilk.