Albuquerque, NM - After months of touting her support for taking tax dollars out of public schools and giving them to private schools, or having the money “follow the child,” Susana Martinez is trying to make a complete 180 degree turn on the issue of school vouchers according to today’s Albuquerque Journal.  The Journal reported that Martinez said she did not support vouchers in the traditional sense. [Albuquerque Journal, 8/2/10] Diane Denish has pledged to fully fund and strengthen our public schools. 

“When it comes to funding our public schools, the choice couldn’t be clearer. While I have pledged to fully fund our public schools and make them stronger, Susana Martinez wants to take money out of our public schools and give it to wealthy private schools.  As much as Susana Martinez would like to abandon this unpopular position less than three months before the election, New Mexico’s parents, teachers and students won’t be fooled.” said Diane Denish, “Throughout this campaign, Susana Martinez has been very clear about her intention to take money away from our public schools so it can be spent on private schools. For good reason, that position is unpopular with New Mexico families – but Martinez can’t have it both ways.”

At an Otero County Republican forum in April, Martinez said: “We find that school choice is very important, parents having a say so in whether or not they’re going to have their child attend the local elementary school that may be failing their child, or if they get to receive a tax credit, voucher, whatever it is you want to call it, that that child should have in order to select a charter school, a Christian school, a Baptist, whatever kind of school that parent decides their child should go to. The dollars that are set aside for that child should follow that child and the parent knows best as to where that child should go to school.” [Otero County Republican Forum, 53:47, 4/1/10; emphasis added]

A mere two months ago Martinez was asked about school vouchers at a rally in Belen.  Her response: “I absolutely support empowering the parents to decide where your children go to school.  I think you should receive, each child receives a state, each child, when you attend public school, receives a certain amount of money. Local, State, Federal funding, goes to that school in reference to that one child…if that school is failing your child, then absolutely you should receive a tax credit in that amount, so that you can turn around and place your child in a Christian school, private school, home school, charter school.  You as a parent should be making those decisions - not us.  And if the school’s failing you, then maybe we’ll have some true competition for that child and the funds that come with the child.” [Martinez Rally, Harla Mays Fat Boy Grill, 28:20, 5/30/10]

Martinez also touted vouchers to the Roswell Daily Record and on 770 KKOB AM.  Martinez told the Daily Record, “I strongly believe that our education process is suffering,” she said. “We don’t have competition. I think the money should follow the child.” [Roswell Daily Record, 8/19/09] While on 770 Martinez said “I would support a tax credit making sure that parents aren’t stuck having their children in, in failing schools.  They can take those children to a charter school, home school them and then receive the tax credit that is provided for that child through the tax dollars.” [Martinez Interview on Villanucci, 770KKOB, 50:40, 4/20/10]

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