Campaign News
(COLUMBIA) – State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex, the Democratic frontrunner in the race for Governor, today called on his Republican rivals to come clean on whether they, their representatives, or anyone from their campaigns met with New York billionaire Howard Rich, who was in South Carolina this week to promote his anti-public education agenda. Rich is an extremist who has used his vast personal wealth to influence and elect public officials in South Carolina who will support his plan to divert public money to private schools through school vouchers and tax credits. All four GOP candidates have voiced their support for his agenda.
“South Carolinians have rejected this idea time and time again, yet these Republicans continue to push a scheme that would take badly needed resources away from our public schools in a time of crisis and give them to private schools with no accountability and no guarantee of accessibility for all students,” said Rex.
In 2006, Rex defeated Republican Karen Floyd, now chairwoman of the South Carolina Republican Party, to become State Superintendent of Education. Floyd’s voucher plan would have required a $500 million tax increase to implement.
“During this recession, especially, now is not the time to impose a voucher tax on South Carolina families to pay for a dual school system in South Carolina that would make us more separate and more unequal as a people,” said Rex today.
Individual contributions to political candidates in South Carolina are limited to $3,500 for statewide offices and $1,000 for State House candidates per election cycle. Yet, Rich has leveraged his influence on South Carolina elections through bypassing those laws with his sophisticated network. That network has allowed him to pump hundreds of thousands – perhaps millions – of dollars into South Carolina during the 2006 and 2008 election cycles through numerous entities he owns or controls.
“South Carolina’s public schools are not for sale, and it’s time for those Republicans who are seeking the state’s highest office to denounce Rich, his money, and his influence and send him packing back to New York. Our schools are improving, and their lies, distortions, and scare tactics won’t change that. The people who are seeking the state’s Governor’s office should be an example for others – not pawn for out-of-state ideologues,” said Rex.
During Rex’s term, the high school graduation rate has improved, SAT scores have improved, the state has become a national leader in public school choice initiatives, and the achievement gap between South Carolina’s minority and low-income students and their peers has been narrowed.
Tags: Howard Rich, public school, vouchers