AFP-WY Statement on Gov. Gordon Gutting Wyoming’s School Choice Legislation
Cheyenne, WY – Americans for Prosperity – Wyoming (AFP-WY) vowed to keep fighting for education freedom in Wyoming today after a line-item veto by Governor Mark Gordon of legislation that creates Education Savings Accounts (ESAs).
With the governor’s line-item vetoes, House Enrolled Act 53 will provide an ESA in the annual amount of $6,000 to students whose household income is 150 percent or less than the federal poverty level, instead of the incremental means testing that would allow thousands of additional students to participate.
His changes came at the 11th-hour and in spite of broad public support for education freedom and the bill’s passage through the state legislature by wide margins.
AFP-WY state director, Tyler Lindholm, gave the following statement:
“We are incredibly disappointed in Governor Gordon’s changes to House Enrolled Act 53. Thousands of families across the state were just told they aren’t poor enough to have educational freedom even though they can’t afford pursuing educational options on their own.
“AFP-WY remains committed to all Wyoming families. Educational opportunities should be available to all students, not just the select few who can afford an alternative option.
“We’re deeply grateful to the state legislature for their diligent work on this landmark legislation and will continue working with them to plug the holes left by the governor.”
