Utahns want education to remain a state issue

Pignanelli: The highly charged emotions exhibited by state leaders crafting Utah's official rejection of No Child Left Behind is providing entertainment for Democrats. Shouting the mantra of "states' rights" and "federal meddling," Utah Republicans are not shy about attacking President Bush and his top domestic priority. For added fun, several GOP legislators are upset with Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. for not including them in all the negotiations with federal officials. Democrats love the irony of the whole matter (we have so little else to amuse us).

When legislators gather this week, the complaints about NCLB will come from both sides of the aisle. Some will highlight the inflexible regulations of the act, while others will label it as another federal mandate lacking sense and enough dollars. Most concerns regarding the structure and implementation of NCLB are legitimate and shared across the country. Yet, the NCLB objectives are important and must not be dismissed.

Thousands of American and Utah youths of a minority ethnic heritage are struggling to obtain a basic education. President Bush acknowledged this dilemma when he said "too many of our neediest children are being left behind" and achieved bipartisan congressional support for NCLB. Admittedly flawed, NCLB attempts to close the unacceptable learning gap between the affluent and the desperate.

NCLB is generating heartwarming speeches from elected officials that Utah, not the feds, must "maintain control" of schools and the destiny of our children. But with the state's right to manage education comes the responsibility to help all students.

Democratic lawmakers have appropriately suggested that Utah, in exercising this inherent right, must address serious problems with underachieving pupils. Adequate funding of initiatives to test, tutor and enhance reading skills is imperative so all our young citizens obtain a high school diploma. All the grand statements of federalism made in opposition to NCLB are meaningless if the state fails to meet its essential goals.

• Huntsman is receiving pressure from all political corners to expand the special session agenda. Of the requests, none is more important than state funding for a new 120-bed nursing home for veterans. The federal government will pick up two-thirds of the construction tab and supply $2.5 million every year for ongoing care — expenses that Medicaid doesn't have to provide. This project not only makes economic sense, it is an important acknowledgment to Utahns who served this state and country.