Most want voucher issue simplified

People want to be able to vote either for or against private school tuition vouchers in November, and they wish legislators would get together in a special session to clear up the muddied issue, according to a new poll commissioned by the Deseret Morning News and KSL-TV.

The survey's results put Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and GOP legislative leaders squarely in voters' sights, as Utahns want the governor and Republican legislative majorities to do what those leaders don't necessarily want to do.

Pollster Dan Jones & Associates found that 64 percent of Utahns would want Huntsman and the Legislature to repeal a second voucher law should voters reject vouchers at the polls Nov. 6.

Even worse for the Republicans, 76 percent of Utahns want Huntsman to call a special session this summer during which legislator's could "fix" the two-voucher bill problem — clearing the way for an unimpeded, simple up-or-down vote Nov. 6 on vouchers.

But even with those overwhelming numbers, Huntsman says he won't call a special session this summer. And it's possible that, should voters reject vouchers, Utah would still have a voucher law and the controversial program would go forward — for GOP legislators could refuse to repeal a second voucher law.

Meanwhile, it's hard to tell where Utahns will side in November. Forty-three percent of 410 Utahns surveyed May 21-24 say they favor vouchers, and 47 percent oppose them. Considering the error margin of plus or minus 5 percent, public opinion is a virtual dead heat, just as it was earlier this year before legislators passed the voucher program.

State Board of Education chairman Kim Burningham sides with the majority of survey respondents.

"I want the public to vote up or down and understand what they're doing," Burningham said. "I think we have work to do to accomplish that."

Leah Barker, spokeswoman for Parents for Choice in Education, said she also wants clarity — but differently than what poll respondents prefer — and has faith vouchers will be upheld in November.

"There's a clear dichotomy in Utah citizens' views right now. They really want to try something different; they think that vouchers would be an exciting, innovative new idea to give children not making it in schools access to the education they need. If we move forward ..., I think Utahns are going to do what they've historically done: support families and support kids."

The voucher question is complicated.