5 Minute YouTube Video: HERE

PASS S285, As-Is, No Changes

• $55 MILLION for “real” School Choice READY TODAY!!!
• S285 has already PASSED the SC Senate (28 to 9 vote)!!!
• S285 is just sitting in the SC House waiting to be passed.
• Could be passed, AS-IS, No Changes and be law within a week.
• $11,000 scholarships for special needs … not $6,000 like ESA.
• $11,000 scholarships for low income … not $6,000 like ESA.
• 100% Constitutional … not like the ESA.
• No Gov’t Strings Attached … not like the ESA.
• Approved by Homeschoolers / HSLDA … not like the ESA.
• All sides say they support it … not like the ESA.
• Nearly UNIVERSAL School Choice!!!
• All families up to 400% of poverty are eligible ($124,800 for a family of 4).

ESA Supreme Court Oral Arguments: This past Wednesday March 6th, the SC Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the lawsuit claiming (as we believe) that the ESA / Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) program is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

You all recall that a substantially similar ESA program was twice ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL back in 2020 … both decisions were unanimous 5 to 0 opinions … and that point was made very clear by Chief Justice Donald W. Beatty (HERE) as the hearing began.  The Chief Justice was unrelenting in his disdain for the ESA program … probably more that a judge should be in open court … but the other Justices were not very easy on the matter either.

Acting Justice, Chief Judge James E. Lockemy (HERE) of the SC Court of Appeals made a huge issue of whether the Superintendent of Education could even administer the program … based on the fact that her Constitutional Duty was to represent Public Schools.  That was a new twist, and not a good sign for the ESA pushers. 

 Watch the 1 hour & 7 minute video of the hearing yourself:  HERE

You never know what may happen … and we are sure the “politicians” electing these SC Supreme Court Justices have been working them hard to rule their “monied special interest” ESA bill is legal … but it could very well be that the SC Supreme Court rules this program unconstitutional for a third time.

The 2020 ESA decision was originally heard on September 18th, 2020, with the decision filed on October 7, 2020 … just 3 weeks later.  Legislators (and families / schools) need to know before the 2024 legislative session ends in early May, so the clock is ticking. 

Surprisingly, very few mainstream media outlets are reporting on this … but you can see what Alexander Thompson of The Post & Courier (HERE) and Seanna Adcox of the SC Daily Gazette (HERE) and Jeffrey Collins of the Associated Press (HERE) had to say about the oral arguments. 

PASS S285 – “real” School Choice:  S285 has already passed the SC Senate and is objectively “better” than the 100% Government Run / government strings attached ESA program … so why are legislators delaying???   What do we say … #FollowTheMONEY!!!

Call your SC House Legislators TODAY!!!

March 6th, 2024 Oral Arguments Video:

Watch the 1 hour, 7 minute oral arguments:  HERE

The 2020 ESA Program using the same ClassWallet (HERE) online portal was ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL as a prohibited “direct” benefit to private schools.

Election Day Countdown (as of 03/11/2024):

• Saturday, March 16th @ Noon – 5 days (SC Filing Opens)
• Monday, April 1st @ Noon – 21 days (SC Filing Closes)
• Tuesday, June 11th, 2024 – 92 days (SC Primaries)
• Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024 – 239 (ELECTION DAY)

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

HAVE AN OPINION?

Have an opinion? Different or in agreement? About the above or something else? If so, speak up as we want to hear from you! Send your letters to team@mySCGOP.com and we will be happy to share it with our readers. #SaveSouthCarolina!

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