"The Wisconsin ruling was the greatest distortion of the principle of church-state separation in modern history," said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "We're asking the Supreme Court to nail shut the coffin on these reckless experiments with public education and the First Amendment."

In Jackson v. Benson, a Wisconsin district court ruled in January 1997 that the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) may not pay tuition at denominational schools. In August of that year, a state appeals court agreed, citing the Wisconsin Constitution prohibition on taxpayer funding of religious instruction. On June 10, 1998, however, the Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed those rulings.

The appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was filed on Monday, Aug. 31. "The Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision told taxpayers that they can be forced to support private religious education," Lynn said. "This is unacceptable. Vouchers strike at the heart of the First Amendment, and we are hopeful that the Supreme Court will uphold democratic principles that keep church and state separate."

Lynn noted that state courts in Ohio and Vermont have struck down voucher aid and that just last month an appeals court in Maine also rejected taxpayer aid to religious schools.

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization represents 60,000 members and allied houses of worship in all 50 states. AU has been a part of legal challenges to every voucher program passed in the country.

Americans United brought legal action against the Milwaukee voucher program along with several other organizations, including the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Education Association and People For the American Way.

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