TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 21 (UPI) -- Many religious leaders back an effort by the Florida teachers union to block a constitutional change that would allow public funding for religious schools.
The Florida Education Association filed a lawsuit Wednesday to keep the amendment off the ballot, the Miami Herald reported. Groups representing school boards and school administrators, the Anti-Defamation League and several Christian ministers and Jewish rabbis support the litigation.
The union says the amendment is misrepresented as a guarantee of freedom of religion.
"This is a shady way of opening the door for school vouchers for all," FEA President Andy Ford told the Orlando Sentinel. "Throughout the nation, voters have repeatedly rejected voucher initiatives, which would weaken our public schools. The leadership of the Legislature realized this, so they approved an amendment whose ballot title, 'Religious Freedom,' and summary are misleading."
Jaryn Emhof, a spokeswoman for Florida's Future, an education advocacy group founded by former Gov. Jeb Bush, defended the amendment.
"Unions are more interested in protecting political monopolies than ensuring every Floridian has access to the high-quality services that best fit their needs," she said.
