Monday, Walker brought up issues, including the fact the Legislative Coalition for People with Disabilities opposed the bill, Philpot said. But she kept returning to money matters.

Philpot thinks that's a copout.

"If it's truly about the type of funding this gets, it would have been nice to have her input when the bill was before the (Legislature)," he said. "Look at how much one-time funding public education gets, but she's not vetoing the public education budget."

The anticipated action comes at a crucial time for Walker, who has thrown her hat in the ring for the governor's race along with nearly a dozen others. Tonight are neighborhood mass meetings, where locals choose delegates for both parties' state and county conventions.

Four years ago, some GOP delegates made an issue out of former Gov. Mike Leavitt's reluctance to back tuition tax credits.

"Gov. Leavitt never did anything so brazen, and his reception (last convention) was not warm," said one source in the know, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "I'm sure she'll pay for (the expected veto) at the convention."

Meanwhile, bill advocates plan to move ahead.

"I don't know what plan B is, but there is one," Smith said. "We're not finished. We're going to have to fight for our kids until we get them what they need."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com