What's wrong with this picture? Republican State Rep. Roger Eddy is grilling Democrat State Rep. Kevin Joyce on the floor of the Illinois House Tuesday. Topic? Whether the adoption of Joyce's amendment to his school choice bill (SB 2494) will or will not diminish the funding of other public schools, including the school district Eddy superintends in downstate Hutsonville. Was there a possible conflict of interest on Eddy's part by his not publicly declaring his own self-interest? Should he recuse himself from voting and from leading discussion because he is a school superintendent when he's not a state lawmaker?
During the on floor discussion, Joyce replied to Eddy that his funding amendment was written by Illinois State Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools' attorneys. They worded it to make sure neither CPS nor school districts outside Chicago would be drained precious state tax dollars if kids in Chicago's 10% worst failing schools were allowed to choose outside the government schools.
SB 2494 moved to third reading in the House and could be called Wednesday for a vote.
