Vouchers for Religious Schools?

Last week, an Indiana bill that would use public funds to send students to religious and other private schools was proposed.  Not surprisingly, the bill has stirred up quite a debate within the Indiana community.  

Republican Indiana state Senator Brent Steele sent out a letter to every Indiana lawmaker this week, stating he would not want this taxes to pay for students to attend a school run by the Westboro Baptist Church.  As you probably know, Westboro is run by Fred Phelps, the same man who organizes demonstrations at funerals of soldiers.  His bigotry and hate have unfortunately gained him and his crew the attention they crave.  

Now, it must be noted that the Indiana bill will not fund Westboro Baptist Church.  However, because Westboro was recently recognized as a religious entity whose free speech is protected, Steele’s point was, “How would you like your tax dollars going toward educating children being privately schooled inside their church?  I don’t want my tax dollars used to raise a child who is going to want to kill my grandchildren because they are of a different religious belief.”  I agree entirely, Senator Steele.  It’s a shame lawmakers cannot cut off federal funding for abortion providers as well.  

The allocation of our tax dollars is a serious issue.  Legislators in more than 30 states have proposed these voucher bills in this session.  House Speaker John Boehner and Senator Joe Lieberman are supporting a bill to reauthorize a Washington D.C. voucher measure.  Why the fuss over this bill?  First, voucher subsidies for religious schools violate the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of church-state separation.  Secondly, voters oppose this.  In a democracy, lawmakers are supposed to listen to the people.