I am writing to urge you to vote against S1161, a bill that proposes to allocate public money from the Empowering Parents program to fund private school tuition. As a concerned citizen of Idaho, I believe this bill is a step in the wrong direction. If passed, S1161 would create a voucher system that would disproportionately benefit wealthier families in Idaho's urban counties, while leaving out rural counties, low-income families, and children with disabilities. Furthermore, using public money to fund private schools is not only unfair but also unconstitutional. The Idaho Constitution clearly states that public funds should not be used to support any sectarian, denominational or private school. Therefore, I strongly urge you to vote no against S1161 and instead support measures that will help improve our public school system and provide equal opportunities for all students in Idaho. Thank you for your time and consideration on this matter.

I am writing to urge you to vote against Senate Bill 1161. While I appreciate the intent behind the bill, I believe it would ultimately have a negative impact on our education system. Allocating public funds from the Empowering Parents program to private schools would be unfair to low-income families, those with disabilities, and rural counties who may not have access to these schools. This bill would also divert resources from our public schools, which are already underfunded and struggling to meet the needs of our students. I believe in the value of public education and the importance of supporting all students in Idaho, regardless of their background or zip code. Rather than funneling public funds to private schools, we should focus on strengthening our public education system and ensuring that every student has access to high-quality education. This bill feels like picking winners and losers among our kids, and that’s just unfair. I ask that you take my perspective into consideration and vote against Senate Bill 1161. Thank you for your service to our state.

I am writing to urge you to vote NO on S1161. As you may know, this bill would allocate public money from the Empowering Parents program and put it towards private school tuition. While this may sound like a good idea in theory, in reality, it would only benefit wealthier families in Idaho's urban counties, leaving out rural counties, low-income families, and kids with disabilities. This bill is just another form of a voucher bill (or “ESA”), and as we have seen in other states, voucher programs have been proven to have negative impacts on public education. I urge you to consider the negative consequences of S1161 and vote NO on this bill. Thank you for your attention to this matter and thank you for your service,

I am writing to urge you to vote against S1161, which would greatly expand the Empowering Parents program and divert funds towards private school tuition. The program was originally sold as a one-time expense, funded by federal Biden dollars to provide broadband access and computers to families in need during a pandemic, not to fund private school tuition. Expanding the program beyond its original scope would be a disservice to the Idahoans who have benefited from it and a misuse of taxpayer dollars. I urge you to vote NO on S1161 and uphold the original intent of the Empowering Parents program.

Please vote against Senate Bill 1161. Allocating public funds from the Empowering Parents program to private schools would be unfair to low-income families, those with disabilities, and rural counties. This bill would divert resources from our struggling public schools. As a conservative, I believe in the value of public education and supporting all students in Idaho. Rather than funneling public funds to private schools, we should focus on strengthening our public education system. Please consider my perspective and vote against Senate Bill 1161. Thank you.

I am writing to urge you to vote against SB1161, which would allocate public funds from the Empowering Parents program towards private school tuition. As a concerned citizen, I believe this bill would have a detrimental impact on Idaho's education system and its most vulnerable students. As a representative of your community and someone who is charged to uphold our state’s constitution, it is your responsibility to ensure that all children in Idaho have access to quality education, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location. I strongly urge you to vote against S1161 and instead support policies that strengthen and improve public schools for all Idahoans. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to seeing you make the right decision for Idaho's students.

I am writing to urge you to vote against S1161, which would greatly expand the scope and budget of the Empowering Parents program (which was supposed to be a one-time, federally funded program) and morph it into a so-called “pilot program” for ESA vouchers. This bill is nothing more than a subsidy program for private school tuition. Unaccountable handouts of public dollars to private and for-profit institutions is wrong and against the spirit of our constitution. We must focus on strengthening public education, not redirecting public funds to private schools that are not required to meet the same standards as public schools. Therefore, I respectfully ask you to vote against S1161 and stand up for the values of fairness, equity, and public accountability in education. Thank you for your consideration.

I am writing to urge you to vote against SB1161, which seeks to expand the Empowering Parents program and use its funds for private school tuition. While the Empowering Parents program has been effective in providing essential resources like broadband and computers to families and children throughout Idaho during the pandemic, SB1161 significantly deviates from the original intent of the program and is unconstitutional. Using public funds to support private schools goes against the principles of a fair and equitable education system, and it is crucial that we prioritize investing in public schools and ensuring that all children have access to high-quality education. Additionally, expanding the Empowering Parents program beyond its initial scope could create a precedent for further unconstitutional uses of public funds. I strongly urge you to vote against SB1161 and to support initiatives that prioritize investing in and strengthening our public education system. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

I am writing to urge you to vote against Senate Bill 1161, a bill that would expand the Empowering Parents program and redirect its funding towards private school tuition. While Empowering Parents has been a great initiative to help families and children in Idaho access important resources during the pandemic, S1161 changes the program's original intent and violates the constitution. Expanding the program to include private school tuition would divert resources away from public schools, which are already struggling to provide quality education to Idaho's students. Furthermore, allocating public funds to private schools raises serious constitutional concerns. I urge you to vote no on S1161 and to support efforts to strengthen public education in Idaho. Thank you for your time and consideration and all you do for Idaho.