Webb: The Legislature passed a brilliant voucher law that sets up a modest pilot project for school choice while ensuring that public schools won't lose one penny of funding. (In fact, public schools receive bonus money if a child leaves for a private school.) It's unfortunate that zealots are attacking the law and trying to repeal it before it even has a chance to work. Thankfully, the attorney general's opinion makes clear that a usable voucher law will still be on the books even if HB148 is repealed by voters. The petition drive may be an exercise in futility. One thing is certain: This issue is headed for court.

Is it worth spending $3.5 million on a Utah presidential primary with so many other bigger states holding primaries around the same time?

Webb: Holding a formal primary gets Utah in the presidential nomination game, so it's worthwhile in that respect. But with so many other much bigger states moving their primaries up, Utah's impact is severely diluted. On the GOP side, Utah will be firmly for Mitt Romney, so it doesn't make sense for GOP candidates to spend a lot of time here. The Democratic race is more wide open, but candidates will focus on bigger states with more delegates.

Pignanelli: Yes, it's worth spending the money. If we don't participate with the other states, we may receive less attention. Because most states have pushed their primaries or delegate selection process toward the early part of 2008, we cannot be an afterthought. In prior elections, several candidates who were struggling in the larger states successfully focused resources on Utah (because the media costs are cheaper here) and claimed a victory in order to keep the campaign alive for the next round of primaries. At the very least, the Salt Lake airport will be a convenient point for candidates to encourage their supporters and collect money — while the plane is refueling.

Does the anti-soccer stadium group have any chance to get its referendum on the ballot?

Pignanelli: Insiders are predicting that the anti-stadium supporters will not overcome the difficult hurdles. These enthusiasts do not enjoy the built-in structure the anti-voucher crowd possesses: the PTA, UEA and the Democratic Party. Further, many residents may be grumpy about the soccer stadium, but there is not enough emotion for a volunteer effort to collect 100,000 signatures. Apparently, the stadium is still struggling with funding, and perhaps the issue will be academic anyway.

Webb: It's highly unlikely the stadium funding question will end up on the ballot. Gathering signatures is a lot harder than it looks, especially in such a short time frame. Initiative or referendum advocates usually have to hire professional signature gatherers to be successful. The anti-voucher group has a shot of getting on the ballot because it has a strong network of teachers and PTA members who are highly motivated.

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Republican LaVarr Webb was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and Deseret News managing editor. He now is a political consultant and lobbyist. E-mail: lwebb@exoro.com. Democrat Frank Pignanelli is a Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser. A former candidate for Salt Lake mayor, he served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, six years as House minority leader. Pignanelli's spouse, D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli, is a Utah state tax commissioner. E-mail: frankp@xmission.com.