TALLAHASSEE - Florida will put up another $2-million to keep issuing vouchers under a 1999 law, Gov. Jeb Bush said Friday.
A trial judge ruled Monday that the state had to set aside that amount in either a bond or a letter of credit in order to keep implementing the state's initial voucher program.
"We'll comply with the judge's wishes," Bush told reporters.
In 2002, Circuit Judge Kevin Davey ruled that the voucher program violates the Florida Constitution by spending tax dollars on religious institutions.
But Davey also said the state could continue implementing the law if it set aside enough money to reimburse public schools that lost students to vouchers.
The appeal of Davey's ruling is pending before the 1st District Court of Appeal, which heard oral arguments in the spring.
The state secured a $2.5-million line of credit last year. It had planned to add only $350,000 to that this fall, even though it expects to spend another $2.8-million on vouchers. Davey said that wasn't enough.
Under the 1999 law, students at public schools that get failing grades from the state two years out of four are eligible for the vouchers. They can attend religious schools, but can't be forced to pray, worship or profess a religious belief.
