NH school choice program survives repeal effort–for now

Earlier this month PLF filed an amicus brief in an important New Hampshire school choice case.  The scholarship tax credit program at issue in that lawsuit has recently been the focus of a legislative repeal effort.  Last week we learned that the New Hampshire Senate Education Committee voted 3-2 in favor of an “Inexpedient to Legislate” recommendation–meaning a majority of the committee advised the Senate to kill the repeal bill.  Today we were happy to learn that the Senate took the Committee’s advice and killed the bill with a 14-10 vote.

Though the program overcame this hurdle, many more are on the horizon — from the ongoing battle in the courts, to budget negotiations that threaten to invalidate the program (see item 58 in the NH house’s recently passed budget).  But until then, low- and middle-income New Hampshire students who want to attend private schools — or even homeschool —  can breathe a cautiously optimistic sigh of relief.