FreedomWorks Activists in South Carolina Walk Neighborhoods to Advocate Historic School Choice Bill
Over the weekend, a group of twelve dedicated FreedomWorks activists braved rainy weather to help spread the word that “school choice is the right choice.” FreedomWorks and local activists have been fighting a six-month campaign to advance school choice bill H.4894, which passed the House last week by a margin of 65-49.
The education reform bill uses tax credits and deductions to empower families and business entrepreneurs to send students to schools that best meet the individual needs of each student. The passage of H.4894 through the House was a major symbolic victory for school choice advocates following last year, when a similar bill was killed by only one vote. Knowing the significance of this bill, FreedomWorks activists are now aggressively targeting the Senate where good legislation is known to die.
Braving the rainy weather, the group of twelve took over 2,500 door hangers identifying Senator Luke Rankin as a vocal opponent of school choice and asking for their support. These same activists also spent the day blanketing the district in yard signs that read, “School Choice is the Right Choice” which FreedomWorks has been supplying to activists across the state since the campaign began.
The message resonated with local voters who understand the dire need to reform South Carolina’s education system. According to National Assessment of Educational Progress, South Carolina ranks 50th in education performance, with only 28% of all 4th and 8th graders scoring proficient in math and reading. These numbers represent an immediate need for change, something that H.4894 can bring.
The Senate in South Carolina is expected to take up H.4894 in the upcoming weeks and FreedomWorks activists will continue to run a massive grassroots campaign identifying other Senators in opposition to the bill. These Senators include: Larry Martin, Billy O’Dell, Wes Hayes, Jake Knotts, and Nikki Setzler. All five of these senators have claimed to support school choice, while continuing to stand in the way of meaningful reform.
FreedomWorks will continue to supply our activists with yard signs, door hangers and palm cards and will continue to host events across the state educating the public on the need to pass H.4894 and bring educational freedom to the state.
Standing in the way of this reform is unacceptable, and 20,000 FreedomWorks members and school choice advocates will hold any lawmaker accountable demanding they vote yes on H.4894.
