On Saturday, Erin Richards, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, recently reported that the “State Legislature’s Black and Latino Caucus” are urging Governor Walker to maintain income limits on the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP). Of the nine Democrats that signed the letter, the only Hispanic Representative is freshman legislator JoCasta Zamarripa.

As a Latina, Representative Zamarripa has a right to do what she thinks is best for the Hispanic community by consulting with her constituents and Hispanics for School Choice has been working closely with her on this issue. We respect Representative Zamarripa, all the work she has already done, and look forward to continuing that relationship. Be that as it may, Representative Zamarripa is not a Hispanic Caucus of one. A caucus is a group of individuals that promote a policy or interest, a detail unfortunately absent in MJS’ recent report.

Furthermore, Hispanics for School Choice (HFSC) has already attained hundreds of signatures from Latino families on the south side of Milwaukee in support of allowing ALL Milwaukee families to participate in the MPCP program. To our knowledge, there is no growing concern in the Latino community for removing such restrictions.

In their letter to Governor Walker and the co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee, some State Democrats asked that income eligibility limits for MPCP be tied to BadgerCare’s current acceptance criteria. This would increase the income eligibility from 175% to 300% of the current federal poverty level. Although increasing the income eligibility is a move in a more inclusive direction, it’s simply not enough.

In real terms, the BadgerCare standard limits a family of four to a combined household income of $67,050. Unfortunately, the BadgerCare standard of living would exclude much of the working class population and especially those families with two working parents. Phasing out income eligibility restrictions will open up the voucher program to more working families, would help keep Milwaukee police, firefighters and teachers from moving out of the city, and will provide more parents with more freedom to choose the right schools for their children.

Hispanics for School Choice believes that political games are at an all time high in our state. However, we will continue to advocate for families and not political careers.