Cooper’s Budget Veto Hurts Latino Families

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced his intention to veto the budget recently approved by the House and Senate. The budget would increase state spending by 3 percent – saving taxpayers $500 million in comparison to the governor’s request. It also reduces the tax burden on North Carolina families and businesses, while promoting educational opportunity through funding of Personal Education Savings Accounts (PESAs), Opportunity Scholarships, and Teacher Performance Pay. The PESA initiative would allow eligible children with disabilities to obtain scholarships to help with educational expenses, including tuition at private schools. The budget increases funding for Opportunity Scholarships and Teacher Performance Pay.

Daniel Garza, President of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement:

“Governor Cooper’s decision to veto this budget is a slap in the face of North Carolina parents and students, who would benefit greatly from budget provisions that expand educational opportunity. Instead, not only is Governor Cooper blocking the creation of Personal Educational Savings Accounts, he has called for eliminating Opportunity Scholarships. Hispanic families will be among those hurt most if the governor has his way, and the Legislature should reject these requests. The governor’s ideas would turn back the clock to a time when every child was forced to accept the same education in whatever school was assigned – even if that school was failing to prepare students for the competitive workplace in America today. Instead, we should look to encourage parental involvement and find ways to match kids to the schools which best suit their specific educational needs.”

For Interviews with a representative from The LIBRE Initiative, please contact Brian Faughnan, 202-805-1581 or  Wadi Gaitan, 202-853-4463