Zoeller: Choice scholarships program Legislature created is constitutional
INDIANAPOLIS – Today a Marion County court heard arguments on several motions in a legal challenge to Indiana’s new choice scholarships law, sometimes called the school vouchers law, House Enrolled Act 1003 (Public Law 92). Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office is defending the statute from the plaintiff’s legal challenge. Zoeller today issued this statement:
“In defending the statute as is our obligation, we contend the Legislature in creating broader educational opportunities followed the Indiana Constitution, since the scholarship funding is directed to students’ families, not to the private schools, and the program does not violate anyone’s rights. The state law that legislators passed has allowed approximately 3,900 students across Indiana to use choice scholarships to access wider educational options,†Zoeller said.
Arguing the State’s case today was Indiana Solicitor General Thomas M. Fisher. The State opposes the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, and the State has filed a motion to dismiss and motion for judgment on the pleadings. Judge Michael Keele took the case of Meredith v. Daniels under advisement and will issue a ruling at a later date.
