In a statement Monday, state Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, said House Democrats blocked his efforts to “drastically expand education freedom in Pennsylvania.”

“I firmly believe that parents are the best equipped to make decisions about their children’s education,” Bernstine said in the statement. “School choice is not about favoring one school over another, it’s about letting families choose the education that best suits their child.”

According to the release, Bernstine put forth an amendment to an education bill being considered in the House. The release stated that his amendment would have given families equal access and flexibility in schooling options.

“If adopted, it would have been one of the most transformative school choice bills in the nation,” the release stated. “Instead, House Democrats used a parliamentary maneuver to block Bernstine’s amendment to House Bill 688 from debate and vote.”

House Bill 688 is a bill primarily sponsored by state Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-126th, which amends the Public School Code of 1949.

“I will continue to advocate for policies that expand school choice options and provide all children with the opportunity to receive an excellent education, regardless of their ZIP code or family income,” Bernstine said in the statement.