Dems Complain About Spending by School Voucher Supporters

Some Democratic legislative candidates say a conservative school voucher group is trying to divide Democrats again during this month’s primary elections. Voucher advocates say they’re involved because they want the taxpayer-funded program to go statewide.

Three Milwaukee Democrats who describe themselves as Progessives, held a news conference to complain about the conservative group American Federation for Children, formerly All Children Matter. The three Democrats say the pro-voucher group has been making independent expenditures for their Democratic opponents who back the voucher program. One of the three, state Rep. Sandy Pasch questions whether voucher backers are really Democrats.

Pasch says about a half dozen contests are being targeted, all or most in districts where Republicans have no chance of winning in November. American Federation for Children spokesman Malcom Glenn is based in Washington, D.C. He says the group is spending in Wisconsin to both protect the voucher program, and expand it beyond Milwaukee and Racine.