Curtis, Seegmiller spar in debate
Curtis made that assessment this past week during a radio debate with Seegmiller on KCPW.
Seegmiller lost to Curtis by just 20 votes in 2006. And he believes he should win this year because he will push ethics reform in the Legislature and listen to House District 49 residents as Curtis didn't do last year in the private school voucher vote.
District 49 residents voted nearly 2-to-1 against vouchers last November, but Curtis pushed the measure as speaker earlier in the year. The voucher bill passed by one vote in the 2007 House, and Seegmiller said if he'd been there it would have failed, saving not only Sandy residents but all Utahns an expensive, bitter public referendum vote later that fall.
Curtis said sometimes lawmakers must make tough votes, and he made the voucher vote as only one way to give families a choice on where their children can go to school. "I don't govern by looking at polls" which showed that most Utahns opposed vouchers, Curtis said in the debate.
Curtis said the Legislature, with him as speaker, has increased public education funding by more than 40 percent over the last few years and he has and will "strongly" support public schools should he win again. Curtis says he will only serve one more two-year term, and believes he will be elected speaker again should he win in the Nov. 4 general election.
"Special interests have way too much influence in the Legislature," said Seegmiller, an Amtrak conductor who wants to limit campaign donations, restrict lobbyist gifts, set up an independent ethics commission, better control legislative conflicts of interest and make other so-called "government reforms."
Curtis, an attorney specializing in local government issues, said he has voted for a number of such reforms in the past, only to see them die in the Senate.
The Jordan School District split is another controversial issue in Sandy. Curtis said when a city incorporates, only those living within the new municipal boundaries get to vote. And he believes only those in the eastern part of the old Jordan district should have been able to vote on breaking away.
Seegmiller said that vote was not fair because west-side district residents didn't get to vote, but will bear financial burdens because of the breakaway.
Curtis said that it is appropriate that all residents in Salt Lake County now pay property taxes to build schools in the new west-side Jordan district. He compared that countywide support for schools to the countywide tax support of the Hogle Zoo.
Recent comments
Too bad we can't see the good done by the Utah Government.
Special Needs | Oct. 18, 2008 at 4:12 p.m.
I WAS THERE. You are wrong in your assumptions of the UEA. Curtis...
Elkman. | Oct. 18, 2008 at 11:32 a.m.
No matter what his position, one man is rarely responsible for...
1 man is not responsible | Oct. 17, 2008 at 10:37 p.m.
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...


