SCHOOL CHOICE COMMITTEE CELEBRATES Cleveland, Ohio – Today, David Zanotti, Chairman of the School Choice Committee, released the following statement on behalf of thousands of school choice supporters in Ohio. The Fourth of July came early this year for thousands of children and their parents in Cleveland. Today the United States Supreme Court has reconfirmed the basic rights of parents, taxpayers, and state governments to develop educational choices that put children ahead of bureaucracy. Today is a truly historic day in the struggle for civil liberty and religious freedom. By upholding the Ohio School Choice Plan the United States Supreme Court has clearly rejected the strained arguments of the ACLU and others who continually work to rewrite the First Amendment according to their own narrow agenda. This decision also sends a clear message to the education establishment that children are no longer to be considered the property of the state, to be held in schools against the wishes of parents and taxpayers. This day is a new Independence Day for education and civil rights in America. There are many people who deserve thanks for this tremendous victory including Senator George Voinovich who, as Governor, led the charge for this landmark program and the members of the Ohio General Assembly for their continual support in voting to reauthorize and fund the Ohio Plan. Attorney General Betty Montgomery did a brilliant job in leading the legal defense along with the Ohio team led by Judi French and David Young and assisted by Clint Bolick of the Institute for Justice. We also deeply appreciate the support of President Bush who sent Solicitor General Ted Olson to the Court on behalf of the Ohio Plan. Most of all we would like to thank the parents, teachers, and principals in Cleveland who have sacrificed so nobly in support of this program and spent countless hours praying that this day would bring justice for their children. Their prayers have clearly been answered. - end - ohioroundtable.org
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