Republicans help parent trigger bill die in Senate

• Tweet
• Sumo

• Tweet

If ever we could see the power of one single vote, it was Tuesday, when two Miami-Dade Republicans saved the state from the parent trigger bill that most parents, ironically, are dead set against and that would have diverted taxpayer dollars from public schools to “privatish” schools.

If either Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R-Coral Gables) or Sen. Rene Garcia (R-Hialeah) had stayed with the majority in their party and voted in favor of the bill, it would have passed this year.

It failed because of a tie 20-20 vote. And because DLP and Garcia changed their minds — since they voted for it last year.

The bill, technically and sneakily called the “parent empowerment,” purported to let parents turn F schools into charter schools. But it was really a way to let the charter school charter industry create more streams of revenue for their non-profit corporations with six figure executive salaries. Supporters say it would have empowered parents and given them a voice in their children’s education. Detractors say it was a mechanism for charter schools to front campaigns in the name of parents and create more of the privatish schools that use public dollars.

It should have been called the charter trigger bill. Because every single PTA and parent group in the state was against it. They saw it as a way of further letting our public schools down. Legislators will not be forced to adequately and appropriately fund public schools — whether they are failing or not, but particularly if they are failing — if they have another option. In fact, they simply will create more other options.

Then they can wipe their hands of it.

Though it died in a tie last year also, the bill — sponsored in the higher chamber by Sen. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland — was expected to pass because of a little changed language giving local school boards the final say and the fact that it passed in the House overwhelmingly after being sponsored by the new Republican golden boy, State Rep. Carlos Trujillo.

But six Republican senators broke rank and joined 14 Democrats to effectively kill it. Besides the senior DLP and “El Salsero” Garcia, those GOPpers were Sens. Charlie Dean (R-Inverness), Nancy Detert (R-Venice), Greg Evers (R-Baker), and Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater).

“It was not needed. Existing turnaround options are enough,” Diaz de la Portilla told Ladra, referring to rules already in place that allow parents to turn failing schools to charters if the majority of teachers agree.

He didn’t say why he changed his mind, since he voted for it last year. But maybe the calls from parents had something to do with it.

“Not one legitimate parent group has asked for it,” the senior DLP said.

Key word: legitimate. Was that a dig at former Gov. Jeb Bush?

Because in the last few weeks, as the bill winded its way through the legislature, a fake group called Sunshine Parents with ties to Bush was outed as a California group that maybe could profit from the charter school industry. Then, in a report by the Miami Herald and Tampa Times, dozens of the 1,300 signatures reportedly collected from Florida residents in favor were found to be forgeries.

And they only tried to verify 360 signatures. So imagine how many were really forged.

Charters schools are a lucrative business. And Ladra is sure the special interests involved were going to many means to get this charter trigger bill going.

And, likely, they will try again next year. Let’s hope the Diaz de la Portilla and Garcia do not change their minds.

Again.