Reader comments
Huntsman to vote for vouchers but won't push Utahns

hmmm, (D) Ralph Becker doesn't seem very well informed. He should not be reelected.

This whole article is so biased in the way it was written it is a shame. Why even write it, unless it is to sway voters. Just having the title Governor and at the end having the words Democrat is sending the wrong message. I am very conservative and Republican as a whole, but I am very much against vouchers. Shame on the writers of this and the editor for not picking up on the bias.

If the public schools were doing such a great job, the private schools would not have a back log of applications to leave public schools. I am voting for the vouchers and even with flaws, as they proclaim, they are better than what we have now.

The public schools moneys are being stolen by the administrators saying they are teachers to get double and it has bee proven for years. This needs to stop

Seems to me that Gov. Huntsman is not fully on board with the vaoucher program. If it is going to help our future then why isn't he promoting it more?

you present no reasoning behind your comment, you probably ought to go to bed, sleep helps the thinking process. I have no comment on Becker re-electablity but I do know that the voucher issue is a non-issue every where else in the country so why is it one here. It is an issue funded by outside interests who have an agenda and are willing to support it here.
I am still baffled why the people that puched for charter schools are not happy with them now and insist on privatizing the system if there is no agenda. Charter system is a CHOICE with lots of parental input. Talk to the parents. The only people ,in significant numbers, that will be running to get voucher money will be those already in private schools. You can yell all you want about choice but choice exist with Charters and openenrollment. I as a taxpayer do not want people who think it is "their" money taking to fund their individualistic goals and agendas in private schools, I want to improve and work with the system that benifits the most, let them use their money to fund "their" choice.

Renae, You obviously have no clue what you're talking about. Money stolen by administrators? Have some evidence before you chime in. Vote for vouchers and sit back and see what happens to all schools. What a joke!!

What are the antis to Referendum afraid of, other than their own narrow interests? Money will not leave the schools. Parents will not be able to pay the high tuition rates, and there are no openings for students with the private school being filled up as they are now. This Referendum is good public policy. The legislature already voted for it, and the governor signed it into law. I'm voting for it. Dan Jones....you are wrong in your poll. The state is pouring money into education, and they won't even acknowledge it.

If the voucher system is passed, is the dependent deduction on income tax going to be adjusted. People with children already get a deduction and, in some cases, a tax credit. It seems unfair to those who don't have minor children to be be taxed so those with them can attend a private school, and the people benefiting are already getting a tax break.

a petition was signed almost over night by parents who didnt/dont want to see their tax money (education fund or general fund) go to offset private education how odd that voucher folks say money exists out of several pockets why isnt there additional money for the educational pocket to try and do more
only 3% of utah school aged students would even benefit from this voucher law - typical utah thinking - once again - the minority is ruling the majority
when the proposed voucher law class size goes down the utah law of FTE for the teachers will go down leaving less teachers to teach and the status quo would remain (oversized classroom size the same or worse off)
talk about the voucher law is pretty much meaningless knowing better thent 120,000+ parents are against it - money coming out of tax payers pockets to pay for something they cant themselves afford -priceless
as for RaNae and her off the wall 'back log of applications' to private schools give me a break, private schools will take your child IF you have the bucks and since you dont i am not interested in being your loan officer

Thanks Mr. Huntsman for not influencing the rest of us. As if you could. Of course he is supporting the vouchers has he ever walked inside a public school?!

what a scam the whole idea of "private schools" is.
if parents would agree to support teachers, when they require performance standards from their students, in writing at the start of the school year, and also spend time with their kids at home each day reinforcing and monitoring what the children learn, they would allow public school teachers to teach and not be behavior enforcers. instead, when johnny acts out in school, or fails to do the work, parents either run to defend little johnny, sometimes threatening the teacher in the process, or can't be bothered. Public school teachers expect the same from their students as do private schools, they just don't have the option of kicking out the trouble makers or, setting back the underachievers because they didn't charge the families an arm and a leg to let the kids attend the school. private schools can say "well parent we just don't want your child here next year unless they do better." i am not surprised huntsman is for vouchers, isn't he one of the richest utah citizens

I believe RaNae is welcome to use private schools, just don't ask the rest of us to pay for it when our kids can't go as well. The average cost is $8,000. Even if you are poor enough to get the $3,000 and you have the Utah average of 3 children, that is $15,000 to come up with. There isn't a voucher program in the country that has ever saved money for the public schools. Its a case of "they choose" and "we loose".

We have the most overcrowded schools in the country and the largest class sizes. I think its time we publicly thanked those who work in our public school system, who get less to work with that anyplace in the country, yet they produce better results that many states who have more money and lower class sizes.

Concerned Parent: The Governor has done a lot to support vouchers. He campaigned on the idea, he worked with Legislators to arrive at a reasonable bill, he signed both bills, he supports them everytime he is asked and now he participated in a press conference yesterday to support them. What kind of role did you want him to play?

T: You can start by looking at the salaries of State School Board Members (over $144,000). That is $40,000 more than even our Governor makes. You should tour their offices and administration buildings too.

While I think State School board members have the best of intentions and are generally doing a great job with public education, I think everyone streamlines a little more and plans a little better when competition is involved.

N: at the press conference he talked about his son in public education, and he was going to Parent Teacher Conference later that day or week.

Governer Huntsman has taken a position that those on both sides of the issue should be able to respect. However, I can't help but wonder if his position is nothing more than political posturing.

By saying that he is voting for vouchers, he appears to be on board with the pro crowd. At the same time by saying that he will not campain for vouchers, he will not threaten the position of those against vouchers, who could have their considerable lead eroded by the governer's persuasion. Seems the gov. is trying to abandon ship without rocking the boat.

The State of Utah is already providing education for all children, if parents want to put their children in private schools then the should have to pay for it. We need to keep tax payer money out of private enterprizes.

Do vouchers actually benefit those we should be most concerned about? Not one bit.

Do vouchers benefit the rich? Those getting richer everyday? Of course they do. Why does the Guv support them? As many have pointed out, because he attended private school and doesn't have a clue what the average Utahn faces on a daily basis. I know voucher supporters strongly believe that the average Utahn can afford private school tuition with a $3,000 break, but these are the same people getting richer by the second.

Lets focus a little more on educating those who need it the most, the low-income population. If we focus our efforts on improving the public schools for all, this segment of the population will be helped the most. Instead of only 10% of low-income students attending and completing college in Utah, lets try to push that number above 20% in the next 10 years. This effort all starts with better public schools, not a selective voucher program.

I don't think state school board members are paid. I could be wrong but I think you should check your facts.

The Governor has shown his courageous style of leadership by walking down the middle of the road. If he thinks this is a great plan why isn't he encouraging people to vote for Vouchers?

The Rich Get Richer:
Have you ever looked at Children First Utah? Private companies have set up a voucher program in Utah that only those that qualify for reduced lunch can use. Average income for these families is less than $30,000 yet they had 2000 applicants for 375 vouchers. I think this is proof that low income families will use vouchers.