Circuit Judge George S. Reynolds III on Monday dismissed with prejudice the case that the Florida Education Association and others had brought against the state’s tax credit scholarship program.
The plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the case, Reynolds stated in his order.
“In this case, Plaintiffs object to tax credits extended to third parties,” he wrote. “Because Plaintiffs do not challenge a program funded by legislative appropriations, Plaintiffs do not have taxpayer standing to bring this action.”
The FEA issued a statement expressing disappointment with the decision.
“We’re disappointed that the judge ruled not to hear the case in court,” said vice president Joanne McCall, lead plaintiff in the case. “We believe that if the facts are allowed to be heard that the courts would find that this tax-credit voucher program is unconstitutional, just like the courts found the original Opportunity Scholarship voucher program unconstitutional in 2006.”
