By Support Our Schools
Volunteers organize more than 250 signing events throughout Nebraska
July 5, 2023 – Hundreds of Support Our Schools Nebraska volunteers have been gathering signatures in support of the petition to let Nebraska voters decide the fate of LB753, a tax credit voucher scheme that would divert public tax dollars to private schools.
SOS-Nebraska Volunteers have organized more than 250 signing events throughout Nebraska, with more being scheduled every day.
“We are making great progress toward our goal of 90,000 signatures,” said Jenni Benson, a Support Our Schools Nebraska sponsor and president of the NSEA. “We will continue to tell Nebraskans how LB753 will affect their local public schools and why we believe it is important to let voters have their say by putting this issue on the ballot.”
Benson said the progress is particularly impressive as the initial rollout of the effort was 100% volunteer-driven “even in the face of some out-of-state “blockers” shouting at people, lying about the petition, and carrying hateful signs about Nebraska teachers.”
“Opponents have even begun circulating a fake petition to try and confuse voters,” said Benson. “But the opponents’ tactics are not working. Nebraskans support their public schools and want to keep them strong. Diverting tax dollars to private schools will hurt public schools which 9 of 10 children in Nebraska attend.”
In its June 30 filing with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, Support Our Schools Nebraska reported receipts of just over one million dollars, with the National Education Association contributing $800,000, and the Nebraska State Association contributing $205,000. Benson said that works out to about 33.5 cents per member for the effort to gather 90,000 signatures. An additional 478 individuals have contributed to the effort thus far.
“Our members have been overwhelmingly supportive of this petition,” said Benson. “They know the importance of keeping public dollars for public schools. And Nebraska taxpayers know that diverting $100 million per year in tax dollars to private schools will put even more pressure on local property taxes to fund their local public schools.”
In addition to other expenditures, the committee spent $69,205 on printing through June 25. A clerical error by the Secretary of State’s Office that incorrectly titled the petition as an “Initiative” meant the original petitions had to be reprinted with the correct title of “Referendum Petition.”