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.

"I'm amazed you would compare the zoo to schools. I'm shocked," said Seegmiller. New homeowners whose children are causing the student growth should pay most of the cost, perhaps through impact fees, Seegmiller added.

He added that he would not have cut $500,000 from disabled Utahns' dental and eyewear funds, which happened in last month's special session to balance the state budget.

When tough economic times means "families must tighten their belts, government should do the same thing," said Curtis. Seegmiller's comments about poorer Utahns "is a good sound bite, but it doesn't come near finding $272 million" needed to balance the budget.

Seegmiller said Utah should require every Utahn to carry health insurance, just like they have to carry car insurance to be able to drive. But Curtis said that answer was too simplistic. "You don't have to carry car insurance on yourself, or your car." You have to carry insurance to pay for the damage your driving may cause to the other person or his car — a very different thing, Curtis said.

Seegmiller said a completely independent ethics commission is needed. Curtis wouldn't go that far. He would support a seven-member legislative ethics commission — four members being the House and Senate majority officers and minority officers, and three judges.

It would take four votes to find unethical behavior, so the three judges would need one legislative vote to find so.

"I want the Legislature completely out of" any ethics investigation, said Seegmiller. "There would be too much pressure" to find the lawmaker innocent, "especially if leadership was involved."

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