From Deseret News archives:
Voucher vote in November?
Huntsman shifts course, says he may move up election 3 months
The governor's proposal to move the election up three months surfaced as GOP legislative leaders insisted they are not going to revisit the voucher issue, and advised State Board of Education officials to think again about not implementing one of two voucher bills passed by the 2007 Legislature.
Huntsman had announced he wanted the election to consider repealing a voucher bill to be held at the same time as the state's presidential primary on Feb. 5, 2008, a date that would have to be approved by lawmakers in a special session.
Now, though, the governor said he may take the referendum "to the people sooner rather than later" without a special session. Under the law, he can set a special election in either June or November without legislative action.
A November special election and skipping a special legislative session is just fine with House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy. "The public has asked for a vote. We need to get it to them," Curtis said.
But Kim Burningham, chairman of the State Board of Education, said he would prefer it sooner than later so it would not be in the middle of the legislative session.
Before he decides, though, Huntsman said he wants a commitment that the 2008 Legislature will pick up local governments' share of the $3.5 million price tag for a statewide election. Curtis said just how much that would cost has yet to be calculated.
Curtis and Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, spoke on the voucher issue before the annual Taxes Now conference sponsored by the Utah Taxpayers Association in the Little America Hotel. Huntsman talked with reporters about vouchers after addressing the conference.
The legislative leaders said rumors that House and Senate GOP conservative legislators outfoxed their Democratic and moderate Republican colleagues by passing two voucher bills last session are not true.
In fact, Curtis, who last session played a major role in pushing for vouchers which had failed six other times in the Legislature said that anyone who believed that legislators knew beforehand how the voucher issue would play out is just perpetrating "a lie."
Comments
- Aggies beat Spartans in snowy Logan 4:31 a.m.
- TCU 55, Utah 28 4:24 a.m.
- BYU 24, New Mexico 19 4:21 a.m.
- Jazz game at a glance 3:00 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 3:00 a.m.
- Stanford ends Y's soccer season 2:20 a.m.
- Jazz hope D-Will returns soon 2:19 a.m.
- Snow, SUU lose 2:18 a.m.
- Toone saves day for Wildcats 2:15 a.m.
- Win in New Mexico good for Y? 2:15 a.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Crash on snowy road kills woman
- BYU happy to escape with victory
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- Born of water and the spirit
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
358 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
200 - BYU happy to escape with victory
194 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - TCU creams U.
134 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
130 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
106 - Celtics crush Jazz
104
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
So Great!!! So Proud - Love RSL - Bring Home The CUP!!!!!
mr cannon's bold assertation that the purpose of the first ammendemnt as...
Great great great game!!!! Nicky Rimando is a god! We're the most complete...
I had the game on DVR and just watched it. That was the most exciting game...
financially cannot this year, but I will watch loyally, how great to hear...
This is hardly surprising. Bennett has a remarkable arrogance which is also...
I guess that is why "they play the game" as Herman Edwards would say.. ...
What was the score of the LSU vs LA tech game? Alot closer than you'd like to...
Has Fedor not said that THIS IS OUR YEAR all year long? Go back and...
This is just a small glimpse of the future with Obamacare: corruption, waste...

You can be the first to comment on this story.