Hoeffel speaks out against school vouchers

With less than two weeks to go before the Pennsylvania primary election, one of four Democratic candidates for Governor took a field trip to Samuel Powell Elementary School in West Philadelphia.

With less than two weeks to go before the Pennsylvania primary election, one of four Democratic candidates for Governor took a field trip to Samuel Powell Elementary School in West Philadelphia.

While children ran around the public elementary school’s playground
enjoying the afternoon sunshine, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel talked with a few supporters about education.

“If we were to give parents a voucher that would be the equivalent of the money that the public school is spending on the child and allow that parent to take that to a private school or a religious school,” Hoeffel said, “One of my competitors in this campaign, Senator Tony Williams, favors non-public school vouchers. He wants to privatize the public education system.”

A spokesman for Senator Anthony Williams says the candidate supports all of the education options including public, charter, magnet and vocational schools… and he believes in letting parents decide which school is best for their child.

A recent Quinnipiac poll shows both candidates lagging behind Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.