Sen. Michael Garrett on why the childcare cliff (not vouchers) should be NC’s top priority

Republican legislative leaders are moving swiftly to dramatically expand the state’s controversial private school voucher program. A bill quickly advancing will appropriate nearly $500 million new dollars to thousands of middle- and upper-income families to help cover the cost of private school tuition.

Not surprisingly, the plan has drawn sharp criticism for Democratic lawmakers – who are angered at the idea of appropriating such huge sums to aid well-off private schools and families of means at the same time public schools and the state’s childcare system are suffering mightily. The voucher debate also comes as North Carolina is facing a childcare cliff in June, that could see many centers close their doors or be forced to raise prices dramatically for working parents.

One lawmaker who’s been especially thoughtful on both issues is Guilford County state Senator Michael Garrett, and last week,  NC Newsline caught up with him in his Raleigh office.