I am currently a plaintiff in two court cases that challenge the LEARNS Act, and am not at liberty to argue those cases in this forum. However, there are a plethora of other problems with the LEARNS Act that need addressing, some that could become court cases in the future. Those interested in my cases may access them, as they are public record.

The debate over Arkansas' education voucher program has been fierce from the beginning. Supporters argue that parents deserve to use tax money for choices beyond their neighborhood public school. Opponents argue that taxpayer dollars belong in public education, not private institutions.

Both sides have spent countless hours debating test scores, accountability, curriculum, and educational outcomes. But there is another question that deserves attention, and surprisingly few people are asking it. What if the biggest impact of vouchers isn't educational at all? What if it is political?

Politics has always followed a simple principle: People tend to remember who delivers a benefit that directly affects their lives. It doesn't mean every recipient becomes a loyal supporter. People vote for many reasons. But when government creates a program that delivers a tangible financial benefit to thousands of households, it also creates a constituency with a personal interest in protecting that benefit. That's not ideology. That's human nature.

Arkansas provides an interesting case study.

In the 2022 gubernatorial election, fewer than one million votes were cast. It didn't take millions of votes to decide who would occupy the governor's mansion. It took fewer than a million Arkansans participating in a statewide election.

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