Ure's defeat may mean end of tuition law

Michael Clara, spokesman for the Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force, acknowledged Ure was a "great advocate" for education but downplayed Ure's role in the 2006 action. He pointed to a 35-34 House vote to keep the bill from a floor debate.

"We still have the majority vote that did not allow that to go to the floor," he said. "It wasn't hinging on one person."

The repeal's sponsor, Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, hopes his next attempt at repealing the law will see success.

However, he stopped short of saying it will be easier to pass the bill with Ure gone.

"You can't tell," he said. "I wish I could predict and predict right. . . . On any bill it's an uphill battle."

Alex Segura, director of the Utah Minuteman Project, has actively lobbied for the tuition law repeal, saying it places Utah at risk for a costly lawsuit by students who pay out-of-state tuition.

He sees Ure's absence as a positive sign, regardless of November's outcome.

"He was the one who was instrumental in holding it up in rules," Segura said. "With him out of the picture, we may have some success."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com