Legislators should clarify voucher intent

"It's the rule of law." That's what some Utah legislative leaders tell us they are following and the reason for not taking the time to clarify their legislative intent regarding two voucher bills passed last session. Sounds more like sandlot ball where kids used to make up the rules as they went along. And the rule maker was the one who brought the ball.

Some legislators appear to think they can satisfy the public by saying they are simply following the rule of law, and then change it as they go along. Seems they forget that if they make the laws, they can also change them. Matter of fact, they do when it's to their political benefit. They exercise their political will to prevent cities from being able to use redevelopment funds to finance such things as soccer stadiums. Then in the next session, they change the law again to allow cities to build soccer stadiums.

Legislative leaders are adamant that education administrators carry out their legislative intent regarding the teacher-pay law, but now they seem to lack the political will to clarify their intent on school vouchers. It's like they forgot that they are supposed to represent the will of the people. Somehow, that seems to be compromised to save their political seats. So, the message given to our children is: Do what you want, and then decide what rules you want to use to justify your behavior — just do it!

Some have complained that Washington politicians do not have the political will to resolve our immigration laws; that because of that, it leaves them with the collateral damage in Utah and the polarization of the state's citizens over the issue.

So, how does that differ from their unwillingness to make clear their legislative intent regarding the voucher bills? It looks like, because they lack the courage to exercise their political will, they are leaving Utah citizens divided over the issue. They don't appear to care about the cost to taxpayers in avoiding the wishes of the people, the referendum and potential litigation. What would they do if it were their own money? They seem eager to let the courts decide the matter. Is that not a contradiction for those who complain about judges who want to legislate from the bench?

So much for the rule of law. Now, like sandlot ball, in order to avoid making a decision on vouchers, legislative leaders are thinking they may want to change the rules by taking a vote by district and let that be the "decider." Maybe next they'll want to vote to allow any district that wants to secede from the state to do so.