House rejects two school voucher proposals

WASHINGTON — In the first congressional floor vote on private-school voucher programs since the Supreme Court declared them legal last year, members of the House of Representatives decisively turned down two attempts at adding voucher proposals to a federal education bill.

In reauthorizing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), House members rejected attempts by two lawmakers to add voucher proposals to the bill April 30. Congressmen first voted down a voucher amendment offered by Rep. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) that would have allowed parents of disabled children to receive government funding to pay for tuition at private schools, including religious schools. The amendment would have allowed such schools to discriminate on the basis of religion, gender or disability in admission of students. It failed by a vote of 240–182.

Then representatives voted down a similar amendment offered by Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.). It would have transferred federal funds to private schools that offered disabled-learning programs. It failed on a vote of 246–176.