When politicians forget who they work for
Kaylee McGhee White
As school choice sweeps the country, those who refuse to get on board should be tossed aside — starting with Wyoming Republican Albert Sommers.
Sommers, the speaker of the state House, is unilaterally holding up two bills that would protect parental rights in the classroom and give families the financial freedom to leave an educational environment that no longer meets their needs or fits their values. The first bill would ban classroom instruction on “gender identity” and sexuality prior to fourth grade. The second, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act, would create an education savings account program that gives families direct control over how their education tax dollars are spent.
Sommers is not allowing either bill to move to the state House floor for a vote, even though both are supported by a majority of state representatives. In fact, the Wyoming Freedom Scholarship Act is co-sponsored by more than half the chamber. A last-minute effort by a bill sponsor to circumvent Sommers and bring the bill to the floor for a vote failed last week.
When asked why he is deliberately interfering with the legislative process and preventing his party from passing one of its legislative priorities, Sommers claimed he was trying to protect “local control.”
“I’ve always fought, regardless of what really the issue is, against taking authority away from local school boards, town councils, county commissions,” he said. “And in my view, that’s what this bill does.”
Cleary, Sommers has forgotten who signs his paychecks. He’s not in the state House to protect local school boards or town councils or county commissions. He was elected to represent the people of Wyoming, and the people (through their elected representatives) have made it clear they want education freedom. If he continues to stand in their way, voters should commit to making an example out of him.