Voucher debate heating up

The race is officially on for the lovers and haters of the proposed private school voucher program, who are trying to gather support before the Nov. 6 election.

Both sides are launching extensive campaigns to get the word out — but what that word is varies dramatically depending on whom you are talking to.

And whatever happens, the governor wants state leaders to keep the gloves off.

In an address to the higher education and public education appropriations subcommittees Wednesday, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said that while opinions on the emotional voucher issue differ, he urged legislators and education officials to stay civil.

"We all know what November holds. I would only ask this group we put aside any ... of our differences on vouchers since we now understand the pathway forward, and we now focus on the big picture: teachers and kids," Huntsman said. "I hope there would be no residual impact from the voucher debate on how we all act and treat one another."

Leaders of the pro-voucher group Parents for Choice in Education told the Deseret Morning News they are planning to kick off an intense educational information campaign to "confront the fear, uncertainty and doubt" about the program stirred up by the opposition.

Doug Holmes, chairman of PCE, said a grass-roots effort will most likely make the biggest difference and PCE will be relying on the network of supporting parents to get the word out. He said he wants to arm citizens with information to share with family and friends.

He said if they have only 30-60 seconds it could be a tough sell, but if they have three to five minutes and are able to explain the program using good information, facts and data they can win voters over.

But PCE leaders said their task will be more difficult because of how the question is going to be phrased on the ballot: Are you for or against a voucher program taking effect?

"We are hoping not to lose it, but the odds are stacked against it at the polls. It is much easier to get people to vote 'no,' there is just a bias ... it swings to how the question is phrased," Holmes said.

Kelly Patterson, a Brigham Young University political science professor, agrees.

"There is research that actually shows that it is easier to get people to vote against something — a yes vote means the change of status quo and it's a higher hurdle to clear," Patterson said.

On the other side of the issue Utahns for Public Schools along with the Democratic Party have plans to dispel the "half-truths and distortions" they say voucher supporters have used to defend the universal private school voucher program.