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SPECIAL NOTICE FROM MICHIGAN EDUCATION DIGEST
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mackinac Center for Public Policy
www.mackinac.org
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
Contact: Joseph G. Lehman, Executive Vice President, at 989-631-0900
Historic Supreme Court Voucher Decision Imminent
EPIC/MRA Poll: 67% Want School Choice, Not Necessarily Vouchers
MIDLAND-With just hours to go before the U.S. Supreme Court renders its
anxiously awaited decision on the Cleveland school voucher program, support for
school choice in Michigan remains strong, with a decided preference for tax
credits as the way to achieve it.
The most closely watched case of the Supreme Court's current session is Zelman
v. Simmons-Harris, a challenge to the constitutionality of a voucher program
operating in Cleveland, Ohio since September 1996. It provides poor students
with vouchers to attend private and religious schools. Opponents claim the
program constitutes government sponsorship of religion; school choice advocates
argue to the contrary, that the program is not biased toward religion because it
leaves the choice of schools entirely up to individual parents.
Michigan voters decisively turned down a voucher plan when it appeared on the
statewide ballot in 2000. Since 1997, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy has
recommended education tax credits as a better policy and a more politically
viable choice for Michigan. The Mackinac Center plan would allow a limited tax
credit for public or private school tuition expenses, and also for individuals
and companies that contribute to public or private schools or to scholarship
funds.
Today, Mackinac Center President Lawrence W. Reed expressed hope that the Court
"will issue a far-reaching ruling that upholds the Cleveland program and
provides a bright green light for school choice everywhere." The Mackinac Center
has been a leader on education reform issues since its inception in 1988, and it
commissioned the survey conducted this week by the Lansing-based polling firm
EPIC/MRA, which showed strong support for choice across the state.
According to the EPIC/MRA poll, 60 percent of Michigan voters indicate a Supreme
Court verdict favoring vouchers would have no impact on their personal view of
vouchers, while 22 percent said it would make them more likely to support a
similar program in Michigan.
More significantly, according to the Mackinac Center, is citizens' desire for
expanding school choice in Michigan. While just 43 percent of respondents said
they would support a voucher program today, support for school choice jumped to
67 percent when respondents were asked if they would support an education tax
credit similar to the one crafted by the Mackinac Center.
The poll surveyed 600 active Michigan voters and has an error margin of four
points.
"These poll results are very encouraging to school choice proponents in
Michigan," said Reed. "At some point in the near future, Michigan citizens will
be faced with a choice initiative and these latest figures reinforce earlier
polls that suggest tax credits are the way to go. That will be true if the Court
upholds the Cleveland program, but if the Court rejects vouchers, tax credits
will then be more than just the best vehicle for choice; they will be the only
alternative."
More poll results are as follows:
* Favor or oppose Cleveland voucher program? 28% StF, 16% SoF, 13% SoO, 36% StO,
7% U/D.
* Favor or oppose a Michigan voucher program? 25% StF, 18% SoF, 14% SoO, 36% StO,
7% U/D.
* Favor or oppose a $2,000 Michigan education tax credit for parents of children
attending non-public schools? 21% StF, 27% SoF, 12% SoO, 29% StO, 11% U/D.
* Favor or oppose a Michigan education tax credit for individuals or companies
to provide scholarships for children who attend non-public schools? 24% StF, 32%
SoF, 12% SoO, 22% StO, 10% U/D.
* Favor or oppose a Michigan education tax credit for individuals or companies
to provide scholarships for children who attend either public or nonpublic
schools? 33% StF, 34% SoF, 7% SoO, 15% StO, 11% U/D.
Key: StF = strongly favor, SoF = somewhat favor, SoO = somewhat oppose, StO =
strongly oppose, U/D = undecided/don't know.
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The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
Please consider contributing to our work to advance a freer and more prosperous state.
