Florida already spends millions of tax dollars on private programs run by religious institutions, according to defenders of the state’s new voucher program. For example, the state Department of Children and Family Services this year will spend $43 million for social service work performed by Catholic, Baptist, Jewish, Lutheran, and other faith_based organizations. The state also provides almost $8 million in grants for students to attend church_affiliated colleges.
“There is no logical distinction between these existing programs and the opportunity scholarship,” declared Governor Jeb Bush’s general counsel, Carol Licko. “We are confident that the courts of Florida will not jeopardize these existing programs.”
