The most casual observer recognizes that energy behind the petition drive is not a debate about voters deciding, it is about unions and bureaucrats maintaining their monopoly control of the education system. Nor is it a statement of popular will; the education establishment employs over 30,000 people so it should not be that hard for them to collect 90,000 signatures.

Compare some of their rhetoric to the facts. The education establishment says vouchers will take money from underfunded public schools. The voucher program is funded through General Fund monies and not from public education funds.

In addition, the legislative fiscal analyst estimated the average voucher amount will be approximately $2,000 vs. $7,500 that will be spent per student in the public schools next year. If parents are willing to volunteer to take $2,000 instead of $7,500 to educate their child, that reduces public school class sizes and increases per-pupil spending.

Also, the Legislature appropriated $9.2 million to fund the voucher program. That is less than 1 percent of the $3.5 billion K-12 budget. The public education system spends more than twice the amount allocated for vouchers every day of the school year. Even the 13-year number that voucher opponents cite of $429 million is still less than 1 percent of forecasted K-12 spending.

No, it is not about the money, as voucher opponents claim; it is about not allowing parents to have meaningful control in a system unions and bureaucrats have dominated for years.

Another favorite of voucher opponents is "public money should not go to private businesses." But, wait a minute; can food stamps only be used in government grocery stores? Can Medicaid and Medicare benefits only be used in VA hospitals? We send tax dollars to private institutions all the time, including public schools buying textbooks and myriad other services.

Further, if government can buy a service from a private provider for $2,000 versus the $7,500 the public schools will spend per pupil next year, taxpayers should be delighted.

No, it is not about the money going to private business. So why the almost apoplectic response from the education establishment to school choice? The education establishment and especially the teachers unions can't risk losing control of the education monopoly. Heaven forbid a parent being able to choose a school outside the union-controlled system. Absolutely not!

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* DOUG HOLMES is chairman of Parents for Choice in Education.