Supreme Court to consider voucher ballot challenges together

Two challenges to the language that will appear on the ballot in a Nov. 6 referendum on whether the state's private school voucher program should be repealed will be considered at the same time, the state Supreme Court said today.

Opponents and proponents of the voucher program each filed separate challenges to the language within a week of each other. Confusion over the program and the ballot language exists because lawmakers passed two voucher laws, with the second intended to amend the original. That second law isn't subject to the referendum, but it re-created many parts of the original law.

Voucher proponents contend the second law is enough to implement a voucher program regardless of the outcome of the referendum. Opponents, however, counter that the second law can only be implemented if the first one is still in place, making the referendum a vote on both laws.

The court will hear arguments from both sides on June 8.