School Choice is our BIG cause … but it is also a great “case study” for everything that is wrong & corrupt in our political process.  We are HUGE school choice supporters … but we vehemently OPPOSE the government running the program.  Who in their right mind … especially “Republicans” … thinks it is a good idea to give the purse strings over our private Christian schools to the same people running our public schools?!?!?  Well, that is what South Carolina’s ESA, or Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) does … it gives full control over private Christian school choice to the SC Department of Education.  #NoThankYOU!!!

BREAKING NEWS:  As widely expected (by everyone except the monied special interest praying for a bigger payday) … the 100% government-run private & religious school choice program, FORCED into law by the monied special interest and their legislative backers, was ruled unconstitutional today … FOR THE THIRD TIME … by the SC Supreme Court.

FEIGNED SHOCK & HORROR … “for the families”:  This result was a surprise to no one involved in the process … but we are now seeing everyone from Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, to Governor McMaster, to Charleston Catholic Diocese, to Palmetto Promise Institute are all crying about “families” hurt by this decision.

Don’t be fooled … they all knew it was coming … and NONE OF THEM said a word in support of the PACE / ACE Bill (S285) which was passed by the SC Senate in March of 2023 … and sat (and died) in the SC House Ways & Means Committee under Chairman Bruce Bannister, Speaker Murrell Smith & Education Chairman Shannon Erickson.

PACE (S285) would have provided $55 MILLION in “real” school choice to families … with no government ties … and it is 1,000% constitutional … but where were the “monied special interest” (or the people above crying about the court loss today) in advocating for children with a constitutional program like PACE (S285)???  #FollowTheMONEY!!!

WHAT NEXT?:   We see that Governor McMaster & the Charleston Catholic Diocese (who strangely enough we have seen advocating for 100% government run school choice) have asked for the SC Supreme Court to “reconsider” its ruling.  We are sure that won’t work … but what would work is to CALL THE SC HOUSE BACK INTO SESSION and pass the PACE Scholarship Bill (S285), as-is, with no changes.  Kids could have real funding with no government strings within weeks.  Perhaps procedurally a problem, but as we say … where there is a will, there is a way.

It can be fixed … but “Watch what they DO, not what they SAY.”  

Stay tuned as this is a developing story … 

SC Daily Gazette Article (HERE)

SC Supreme Court Opinion (HERE)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Jeff Davis is co-founder of mySCGOP.com. Jeff is a ’89 graduate of The Citadel and in 1993 received his Law/MBA from USC. A tax attorney / CPA licensed in Georgia, Jeff is an uncompromised school choice advocate for K-12 children with special needs. Originally from Charleston, and having practiced in Atlanta, Jeff and his wife Olga now live in Greenville. Jeff completed his two year term as Greenville County Republican Party Chairman and is currently serving as GCRP State Executive Committeeman.

Jeff is also “barred” from attending the SCGOP State Executive Committee Meetings (HERE). Why? Because he dared to run against Drew McKissick for SCGOP Chairman – coming in 2nd with Drew only being reelected by 1.8% (HERE & HERE) – and in September 2021 he told the State Executive Committee that Chad Connelly had been under SLED investigation for a year and a half … and it was true (HERE & HERE).

Send us your opinion on this great debate … and how you would like to see it solved … by emailing us at team@mySCGOP.com.

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