Silver State Times

Nevada Democrats refuse to include the expansion of school choice in the appropriations budget, risking the possibility of a special session.

Expressing disappointment, Erin Phillips, president and CEO of Power2Parent Union, a parental rights advocacy group based in Nevada, shared her thoughts on Twitter.

"The democratic stance on Opportunity Scholarships is blindly ideological,” she wrote in a June 6 tweet. “The governor is asking for a mere 1% of the entire education budget to give low-income kids a chance to escape a failing school."

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo recently vetoed the $7 billion state appropriations budget due to the Democrats' refusal to include the expansion of school choice, 2 News reported. This decision puts the possibility of a special session at risk if both parties fail to reach an agreement. Lombardo has consistently shown support for school choice and has advocated for expanded opportunity scholarships, particularly for lower-income families, according to the report.

"What we know is that 70% of Nevadans want opportunity scholarships, they want school choice," Phillips said. "We're looking at a program that funds low-income students. We're giving them an opportunity to have a quality education, and so I think that has been a priority from the beginning."

According to 2 News, Assembly Bill 400, which aims to advance school choice and centers around charter schools, passed on June 4. The legislation includes provisions for charter school transportation funding as well as government sponsorship.

However, some people are concerned that including opportunity scholarships may divert funding from public schools.

“We're very thankful for Senator Cannizzaro, the Majority Leader of the State Senate, and Speaker Yeager for holding the line on issues that we feel are important to progressive values and to our state," said Annette Magnus, Battle Born Progress executive director, 2 News reported. "One of those things is what they call opportunity scholarships, we call them vouchers, and believe our tax dollars shouldn't be going to private schools. We want to make sure our public schools are fully funded."