Bill advances shifting Indiana voucher oversight

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A Republican-controlled legislative committee has approved a proposal to shift administration of Indiana's private school voucher program away from the new Democratic state schools superintendent.

The House education committee voted 7-4 along party lines Tuesday to endorse the bill that would move the handling of applications for the vouchers and distribution of the money to the state's Office of Management and Budget. That agency reports to Republican Gov. Mike Pence.

Education committee chairman Robert Behning cited the involvement of schools superintendent Glenda Ritz in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the voucher program before her election last fall.

Ritz has since withdrawn from that lawsuit that's awaiting a ruling from the state Supreme Court

Committee Democrats said they believed Ritz's integrity was being questioned by the proposal.