Scott Hennen’s interview with Ben Koppelman
(BISMARCK, ND) – Rep. Ben Koppelman says a bill he has helped introduce into the North Dakota Legislature covers only a fraction of what the state pays towards a student’s education.
House Bill 1540 would put into play an education savings account program for North Dakota students.
“The money does not come from state money given to public schools, it comes from the general fund,” Koppelman said. It amounts to approximately $4,000 per student that chooses to attend a school other than a public school in the state.
He says the North Dakota Senate’s version of the bill ‘spends twice as much money.’
“It spends about $58 million and all but about $8 million heads a different direction,” Koppelman said. The bill he has brought forwarded provides $40 million per year, while the Senate’s only provides approximately $8 million per year, for school choice.
The West Fargo Republican’s bill would allow a 25 percent carryover.
Committees give bill ‘do not pass’ designation
Since being introduced originally on January 20, the bill has been through a ton of hearings.
In its original form, the bill was heard by the House Education Committee, which gave it a do not pass recommendation on February 11. It later passed the full House chamber 49-38.
The bill was then rereferred to the House Appropriations Committee, which gave it a do not pass recommendation on Monday and placed it on the House calendar.
“The appropriations committee is predominantly members who don’t like school choice,” Koppelman said. “They again gave it a do not pass.”
He said the hope of the bill’s sponsors is that the House will overturn the committee’s recommendation.
Senate’s bill passes by slim margin
Koppelman said the Senate’s version of the bill passed by only ‘a few votes.’
He said if the Senate’s version fails, as many as five votes will likely flip from being against the House’s bill to for it.
“There actually could be some positives that come out of that,” Koppelman said. “I’m just not overly optimistic that, if we get the Senate bill over here, and 1540 fails, that we’re going to make something better out of that (Senate Bill 2400).”
He said the exact opposite would likely happen.
