Note: Following is an encapsulation of actions taken and remarks made by legislators during today's debate. While this note does reflect remarks made by these lawmakers, it is not a full and verbatim transcript of the remarks.
Brannon withdrew the next seven amendments, bringing the body to Rep. Harry Ott's Amendment 22.
Ott: This amendment says, Let's try it for five years, then look at it. If it's working, this body can reauthorize it. At least we can take a look.
We've voted down all amendments on accountability. Are we just going to throw money at it and hope our problems go away without evaluation the outcome?
With this amendment, in five years, they will get to re-evaluate and determine what they want to do.
Herbkersman: We have been throwing money at a problem without getting results. Would this amendment prevent changes over that five years?
Ott: If you come here next year and decide you want to change something, you can.
Y'all know I'm not for the bill. All I'm saying it, Let's take a breath, look at it after five years and see if it turned out the way you wanted.
Ott asked unanimous consent to change from a five-year period to a seven-year period, which was granted.
Bedingfield requested roll call on adopting the amendment.
Vote: 67-46, adopted!
Showing posts with label Eric Bedingfield. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eric Bedingfield. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Brannon's Amendment 15 tabled
Note: Following is an encapsulation of actions taken and remarks made by legislators during today's debate. While this note does reflect remarks made by these lawmakers, it is not a full and verbatim transcript of the remarks.
Brannon's Amendment 15: Includes the definition of immediate family members, who cannot receive scholarships when a family member is on the private school's board.
Bedingfield moved to table; Brannon requested roll call.
Vote: 68-46, tabled.
Brannon's Amendment 15: Includes the definition of immediate family members, who cannot receive scholarships when a family member is on the private school's board.
Bedingfield moved to table; Brannon requested roll call.
Vote: 68-46, tabled.
Brannon's Amendment 14 tabled
Note: Following is an encapsulation of actions taken and remarks made by legislators during today's debate. While this note does reflect remarks made by these lawmakers, it is not a full and verbatim transcript of the remarks.
Brannon's Amendment 14: A private school receiving SGO funds must be currently accredited.
Bedingfield moved to table; Brannon requested roll call.
Vote: 62-49, tabled.
Brannon's Amendment 14: A private school receiving SGO funds must be currently accredited.
Bedingfield moved to table; Brannon requested roll call.
Vote: 62-49, tabled.
Brannon's Amendment 13 tabled
Note: Following is an encapsulation of actions taken and remarks made by legislators during today's debate. While this note does reflect remarks made by these lawmakers, it is not a full and verbatim transcript of the remarks.
Brannon's Amendment 13: A private school receiving SGO funds must have been operating in South Carolina for 12 months before receiving the funds.
Bedingfield moved to table; Brannon requested roll call.
Vote: 61-50, tabled.
Brannon's Amendment 13: A private school receiving SGO funds must have been operating in South Carolina for 12 months before receiving the funds.
Bedingfield moved to table; Brannon requested roll call.
Vote: 61-50, tabled.
Brannon's Amendment 12 tabled
Note: Following is an encapsulation of actions taken and remarks made by legislators during today's debate. While this note does reflect remarks made by these lawmakers, it is not a full and verbatim transcript of the remarks.
Brannon's Amendment 12 adds disabilities or academic achievement to the list of characteristics that private schools cannot discriminate against.
Rep. Steve Parker: I can't imagine anyone would oppose this amendment.
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter: Is it accurate that your amendment takes away the argument that private schools and publics are apples and oranges because publics have no right to refusal, while privates do?
Brannon: Yes.
Cobb-Hunter: So private school must accept anyone, if it is accepting public dollars?
Brannon: Yes, with one exception. Under the SGO program, the school has to qualify to receive scholarship dollars and if they're not set up to meet the needs of disabled children, they would qualify to receive these dollars.
Rep. Dwight Loftis: But all public schools do not accept all children with all disabilities.
Brannon: You have to read this amendment in conjunction with the rest of the bill. A private school doesn't have to accept anybody. If they don't qualify by the SGOs, they don't have to accept anyone. Should we set up SGO so they can pick and choose?
Loftis: We should set up schools just as we set up public schools, that don't accept all disabled children.
Herbkersman: Do you think the Governor's School of Science should accept someone whose academic achievement is lower than their standards are right now?
Brannon: That's not apples to apples. Should they be able to discriminate as they choose?
Herbkersman: They should be able to have standards.
Bedingfield moved to table; Brannon requested roll call.
Vote: 66-49, tabled.
Brannon's Amendment 12 adds disabilities or academic achievement to the list of characteristics that private schools cannot discriminate against.
Rep. Steve Parker: I can't imagine anyone would oppose this amendment.
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter: Is it accurate that your amendment takes away the argument that private schools and publics are apples and oranges because publics have no right to refusal, while privates do?
Brannon: Yes.
Cobb-Hunter: So private school must accept anyone, if it is accepting public dollars?
Brannon: Yes, with one exception. Under the SGO program, the school has to qualify to receive scholarship dollars and if they're not set up to meet the needs of disabled children, they would qualify to receive these dollars.
Rep. Dwight Loftis: But all public schools do not accept all children with all disabilities.
Brannon: You have to read this amendment in conjunction with the rest of the bill. A private school doesn't have to accept anybody. If they don't qualify by the SGOs, they don't have to accept anyone. Should we set up SGO so they can pick and choose?
Loftis: We should set up schools just as we set up public schools, that don't accept all disabled children.
Herbkersman: Do you think the Governor's School of Science should accept someone whose academic achievement is lower than their standards are right now?
Brannon: That's not apples to apples. Should they be able to discriminate as they choose?
Herbkersman: They should be able to have standards.
Bedingfield moved to table; Brannon requested roll call.
Vote: 66-49, tabled.
Brannan's Amendment 11 tabled
Note: Following is an encapsulation of actions taken and remarks made by legislators during today's debate. While this note does reflect remarks made by these lawmakers, it is not a full and verbatim transcript of the remarks.
Brannon's Amendment 11 is technical. Various kinds of schools are defined in various parts of the bill; this amendment takes out one code reference because it's "fraught with peril when it comes to fraud."
Bedingfield moved to table, Brannon asked for roll call.
Vote: 67-47, tabled.
Brannon's Amendment 11 is technical. Various kinds of schools are defined in various parts of the bill; this amendment takes out one code reference because it's "fraught with peril when it comes to fraud."
Bedingfield moved to table, Brannon asked for roll call.
Vote: 67-47, tabled.
Brannan's Amendment 10 tabled
Note: Following is an encapsulation of actions taken and remarks made by legislators during today's debate. While this note does reflect remarks made by these lawmakers, it is not a full and verbatim transcript of the remarks.
Amendments 4 through 9 are passed over; Amendment 10 is explained by Rep. Doug Brannon.
Brannon: Pointless, but this amendment deal with transparency and accountability. Every independent school accepting grants shall undergo an audit and report to the Education Oversight Committee. If they're going to take state money, they should tell what they're doing with it.
Rep. Seth Whipper: They're taking state money?
Brannon: They're private, nonprofit organizations handing out money that would have come to the state.
Whipper: But the money doesn't come from the state.
Brannon: Corporations can contribute money to an SGO and save up to 65 percent of their state tax obligation. Rather than pay taxes, they can reduce their bill by giving money to an SGO.
---
Whipper: What state standards for anything are involved in this bill?
Brannon: You saw that Rep. Anthony's amendment to create some standards was just shot down. I'm just trying to account for money.
Rep. Bill Herbkersman: Let's talk about state money. It's taxpayer money. If you contribute money to your church, that's tax deductible. You wouldn't tell me not to give to the cancer society because it takes money away from the state, would you? But you would for giving money for school choice?
Brannon: We're dealing with education here. These organizations should be accountable.
Herbkersman: But it's not state money, it's taxpayer money.
Rep. Gene Pinson: Who can argue that we should oppose transparency or accountability?
Bedingfield moved to table, Brannon asked for roll call.
Vote: 69-48, tabled.
Amendments 4 through 9 are passed over; Amendment 10 is explained by Rep. Doug Brannon.
Brannon: Pointless, but this amendment deal with transparency and accountability. Every independent school accepting grants shall undergo an audit and report to the Education Oversight Committee. If they're going to take state money, they should tell what they're doing with it.
Rep. Seth Whipper: They're taking state money?
Brannon: They're private, nonprofit organizations handing out money that would have come to the state.
Whipper: But the money doesn't come from the state.
Brannon: Corporations can contribute money to an SGO and save up to 65 percent of their state tax obligation. Rather than pay taxes, they can reduce their bill by giving money to an SGO.
---
Whipper: What state standards for anything are involved in this bill?
Brannon: You saw that Rep. Anthony's amendment to create some standards was just shot down. I'm just trying to account for money.
Rep. Bill Herbkersman: Let's talk about state money. It's taxpayer money. If you contribute money to your church, that's tax deductible. You wouldn't tell me not to give to the cancer society because it takes money away from the state, would you? But you would for giving money for school choice?
Brannon: We're dealing with education here. These organizations should be accountable.
Herbkersman: But it's not state money, it's taxpayer money.
Rep. Gene Pinson: Who can argue that we should oppose transparency or accountability?
Bedingfield moved to table, Brannon asked for roll call.
Vote: 69-48, tabled.
Brannon's Amendment 3 is tabled
Note: Following is an encapsulation of actions taken and remarks made by legislators during today's debate. While this note does reflect remarks made by these lawmakers, it is not a full and verbatim transcript of the remarks.
Rep. Doug Brannon, Amendment 3: If a private school offers any scholarships and they qualify under this bill to receive scholarship funds, then they must accept voucher students for the amount of the voucher offered by the scholarship granting organization.
Let's face it: Average tuition at a private school in South Carolina is $11,000. If all you're giving them is $7,500, they don't have the money to make up the difference. So make these schools take these students.
Rep. Seth Whipper: What are the numbers involved in this voucher transfer?
Brannon: It's $4,000 deduction if your child enrolls or IS enrolled in a private school.
Whipper: Given merely on the fact the student is enrolled?
Brannon: Is enrolled or will be enrolled, up to $4,000, paid in the form of tuition. It's $2,000 for people who home-school their children, and less for transportation across public school district lines.
Scholarships may be granted for up to $5,000 to some students, paid to private schools for the benefit of these children.
Whipper: What we're talking about is SGOs -- some kind of foundation, a scholarship-granting organization. What are they?
Brannon: All I know is what I've read in the bill. There could be one, or ten thousand. There's no limit to the number of them. One could have $25 million.
Whipper: But they can only give a certain amount?
Brannon: Five thousand or ten thousand per child who qualifies. My amendment requires any school that gives a scholarship to accept scholarships from SGOs without asking parents for any additional funds.
Whipper: Are they philanthropic?
Brannon: They're non-profit. There are rules in the bill itself related to them.
Whipper: Will these SGOs be limited to schools they name for a period of time or in perpetuity?
Brannon: That's not in the bill.
Rep. Eric Bedingfield: To clarify, average tuition is $4,400. I don't disagree there are private schools with high tuition, but others have very low tuition. This amendment would require schools that aren't equipped to take SGO students to take them. So I move to table to amendment.
Brannan requested roll call.
Unidentified: But public schools HAVE to take these students...
Vote: 67-48, tabled.
Rep. Doug Brannon, Amendment 3: If a private school offers any scholarships and they qualify under this bill to receive scholarship funds, then they must accept voucher students for the amount of the voucher offered by the scholarship granting organization.
Let's face it: Average tuition at a private school in South Carolina is $11,000. If all you're giving them is $7,500, they don't have the money to make up the difference. So make these schools take these students.
Rep. Seth Whipper: What are the numbers involved in this voucher transfer?
Brannon: It's $4,000 deduction if your child enrolls or IS enrolled in a private school.
Whipper: Given merely on the fact the student is enrolled?
Brannon: Is enrolled or will be enrolled, up to $4,000, paid in the form of tuition. It's $2,000 for people who home-school their children, and less for transportation across public school district lines.
Scholarships may be granted for up to $5,000 to some students, paid to private schools for the benefit of these children.
Whipper: What we're talking about is SGOs -- some kind of foundation, a scholarship-granting organization. What are they?
Brannon: All I know is what I've read in the bill. There could be one, or ten thousand. There's no limit to the number of them. One could have $25 million.
Whipper: But they can only give a certain amount?
Brannon: Five thousand or ten thousand per child who qualifies. My amendment requires any school that gives a scholarship to accept scholarships from SGOs without asking parents for any additional funds.
Whipper: Are they philanthropic?
Brannon: They're non-profit. There are rules in the bill itself related to them.
Whipper: Will these SGOs be limited to schools they name for a period of time or in perpetuity?
Brannon: That's not in the bill.
Rep. Eric Bedingfield: To clarify, average tuition is $4,400. I don't disagree there are private schools with high tuition, but others have very low tuition. This amendment would require schools that aren't equipped to take SGO students to take them. So I move to table to amendment.
Brannan requested roll call.
Unidentified: But public schools HAVE to take these students...
Vote: 67-48, tabled.
Anthony's Amendment 2 tabled
Note: Following is an encapsulation of actions taken and remarks made by legislators during today's debate. While this note does reflect remarks made by these lawmakers, it is not a full and verbatim transcript of the remarks.
Rep. Terry Alexander: Is this really apples to apples?
Anthony: No, different levels of deductions for different children, private schools versus home schools.
Alexander: Isn't a state test part of apples-to-apples?
Anthony: That's my amendment. It's only fair. I've never figured out why accountability didn't come with this.
Rep. Eric Bedingfield: A certain portion of federal education dollars is tied to identifying a state test.
Anthony: It's a mandate from the federal government that we identify a state test. We don't have a choice.
Bedingfield: Jo Anne Anderson said there are ways to compare apples to apples without using the same test.
Anthony: I saw the good work the EOC did, but I will tell you this: I know that the Stanford test is much different from ours. We created the PASS test to meet NCLB. Why wouldn't you want to take the state test if you take the state dollars?
Bedingfield: At the appropriate time, I will move to table this amendment.
====
Anthony: Under Inez Tenenbaum, we created the third toughest test in the nation.
___: In Pickens County, we had a child who enrolled in a private school. At Christmas, they decided that couldn't afford it and went back to a public school. Could they take the deduction?
Anthony: I don't know.
Rep. Tommy Pope: There's a lot of tension and teacher lament that teachers are just teaching to the test. Do you think the PASS test is good for our schools?
Anthony: I think it's outlived its time.
Allison: Move to table the amendment.
Anthony requested roll call.
Vote: 63-53, tabled.
Rep. Terry Alexander: Is this really apples to apples?
Anthony: No, different levels of deductions for different children, private schools versus home schools.
Alexander: Isn't a state test part of apples-to-apples?
Anthony: That's my amendment. It's only fair. I've never figured out why accountability didn't come with this.
Rep. Eric Bedingfield: A certain portion of federal education dollars is tied to identifying a state test.
Anthony: It's a mandate from the federal government that we identify a state test. We don't have a choice.
Bedingfield: Jo Anne Anderson said there are ways to compare apples to apples without using the same test.
Anthony: I saw the good work the EOC did, but I will tell you this: I know that the Stanford test is much different from ours. We created the PASS test to meet NCLB. Why wouldn't you want to take the state test if you take the state dollars?
Bedingfield: At the appropriate time, I will move to table this amendment.
====
Anthony: Under Inez Tenenbaum, we created the third toughest test in the nation.
___: In Pickens County, we had a child who enrolled in a private school. At Christmas, they decided that couldn't afford it and went back to a public school. Could they take the deduction?
Anthony: I don't know.
Rep. Tommy Pope: There's a lot of tension and teacher lament that teachers are just teaching to the test. Do you think the PASS test is good for our schools?
Anthony: I think it's outlived its time.
Allison: Move to table the amendment.
Anthony requested roll call.
Vote: 63-53, tabled.
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