Sen. Robert Ford to unveil school choice plan

A prominent black South Carolina legislator is joining a years-long Republican effort to help parents send their children to private schools.

By: AP | CountOn2.com
Published: March 24, 2009

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A prominent black South Carolina legislator is joining a years-long Republican effort to help parents send their children to private schools.

Democratic Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston and Republican Rep. Eric Bedingfield of Greenville are unveiling Tuesday the latest plan to give parents private school options through vouchers and tax credits.

Such plans have failed repeatedly in the Legislature since Gov. Mark Sanford began pushing the idea following his 2002 election. The issue has divided the Republican Party.

Ford is considering a 2010 race for governor on a pro-gambling platform. He told The State Newspaper he has met with New York financier Howard Rich, who has poured money into South Carolina campaigns to elect pro-voucher candidates.