LINCOLN- This week, the state teachers union organized a campaign committee to challenge the 'Opportunity Scholarships Act,' which recently passed to its final round of debate on a 33-11 vote. The committee, formally titled "Support Our Schools Nebraska," has created a website seeking donations and volunteers to gather signatures to put a referendum on the 2024 ballot that would overturn the not-yet-passed LB753, Sen. Linehan's 'Opportunity Scholarships Act.'

Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said that if LB753 is signed into law, her organization will seek to allow voters to repeal it. "Three times previously, Nebraska voters have rejected public dollars for private education at the ballot box," said Benson, "If a majority of state lawmakers continue to ignore the wishes of Nebraska voters, we will do all we can to allow voters to repeal this harmful, ill-advised legislation."

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan called the efforts led by NSEA "silliness" given the large increases in spending on public education in the works this year. "And they're going to spend $2 to $3 million on a referendum campaign because they don't want other kids to have an opportunity?" said Linehan, "It just boggles my mind." Linehan and other backers of LB753 maintain that low-income families should have the same opportunity to choose a private school as well-off families.

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