Reader comments
Plenty of election spending

Too bad that wasn't spent on the students and teachers!

With all the squabbles about money, everyone is forgetting about the children of Utah getting a good education at a reasonable cost. The present system is riddle with fraud and corruption that is stealing more from the education system than the vouchers would do. The only way to fix a broken system is to make some drastic changes, from the top down and nobody seems to care about the real issue here. If money was such a concern why isn't the public education system being fixed? The vouchers offer parents an alternative to put their children in an enviornment to get a much better education. That is the real issue, quality of education. Parents should get much more for their childrens education than the proposed $3000. The tax based system has been a failure and slap in the face of the americans paying their hard earned taxes to force illegal foreign nationals on the public school system that has all but destroyed any hopes a decent public education. If these anti-voucher individuals want to save money for education then get the illegals out of our schools, they are not a part of the american people nor are they citizens.

The teachers throughout the nation are scared....they may actually have to compete (provide a superior product)instead of stay placidly complacent.

Too bad that all the money spent for the campaign wasn't put into the schools for our children. $5.5 million could go far to help educate our children.

Tiffany,sure would have been nice if you'd just directly stated how much each campaign raised. Now I have to pull out those rusty public school math skills. Let's see, 5.5 total - 1.2 PCE extra is 4.3, which means UTPS raised 2.15 mill, PCE raised 3.35. and so many other questions now. Of the 2 mill contributed by the "UEA", how much of that was actually from the NEA. And 82% of PCE's money came from instate (almost all from Byrne), I'm curious how much UTPS money was from Utahns. Inquiring minds want to know, reporters can't be bothered to tell us...

It is too bad that the UEA used its influence at parent teacher conferences to force a vote on the law that the legislature and the governor created to benefit the students and parents of this great state. If anyone is too blame for the extra costs of a public campaign about the referendum it is the big union of the UEA. It would be law now if it wasn't for them. Also, it is interesting that the anti voucher folks are the ones getting money from outside the state.

There is still hidden money out there. Just one for instance: PCE gave lots of money to legislators last year, who are now spending it to push R1, but they don't have to report it until next April!

Why are people in favor of giving public funds to private businesses?

I'm voting for vouchers, because I want my kids to have free cookies.

I realize what everyone assumes, if I can get my kids away from the unwashed masses, and get to keep a little cash for myself, what's the problem?

And what illegal immigrant is going to try for state funds. Keep my kids away from the gangsters too. What parent of a gangster is going to send him to a private school? What private school is going to accept a gangster? My young white daughters will be safe.

Hey, this is the only way for me to legally segregate my children with the state paying and I'm all for it.

(My kids will be eating State Bought Oreos with my "choice" money away from the riff-raff. Few people are afraid to tell the honest truth. I tell it like it is. Does the DMN have the courage to print the truth? We whall see.)

So the PCE starts their campaign by saying how much the NEA/UEA has spent but now we find out that PCE has outspent them. PCE spends these huge amounts of money from a few donars but UTPS comes from thousands of donars. Most people don't want vouchers even if a few do. Layton Rad is mostly right it would be law if the UEA hadn't stepped up. What he didn't get right is it wasn't just the UEA, it was the state superentendents, principals, PTA, NCAAP, and 10 other groups who all contributed. Vochers were not a local home grown issue. It was an issue from out of state that was introduced here because national interests thought they could get it passed here because Utah is so RED. Again it wasn't just the UEA that said it was wrong, do did many republicans. People in Utah aren't going to roll over and let big money buy them. They can think for themselves. I did and I already voted against referendum 1.

Regardless of how much money was spent on either side of the issue, I hope that those who read this will take the time to read the actual bill and decide for themselves which side they will vote for.

I for one am not in agreement with Bob G. I don't think that the current system is riddled with fraud or corruption to the extent that he claims it is. Even if it is, I don't think that "drastic measures" are needed to repair what is broken. I do, however, believe that, as in any "system," there will be some changes made to make things better.

My personal opinion is that this law that is currently up for debate is not the answer. It gives public money to private institutions with ambiguous accountability. It will also be readily accessible to those that need it least and almost completely inaccessible to those that it would benefit most.

I will be voting against referendum 1.

Layton

The Referendum belongs to the people of Utah. I for one am damn glad that we did so.

Once again a Parents for Choice (PCE)paid for goon is blaming the union It wasn't the UEA who bought and purchased HB 148, it was PCE. It wasn't the UEA who pushed this flawed legislation through, even when the majority of Utahns were against it.

Our state constitution give us the right to be equal with the legislature. They wouldn't listen so the people took matters into their own hands.

Considering the reputation of the UEA, an organization of Utah teachers, and that of Patrick Byrne who called public school supporters bigots it would seem this issue would be over. Byrne is bad news. Just check out the net and one can see how Mr. Byrne is controversial, and dis-liked, just like PCE.

The UEA did not force any of the 145,000 signatures on the petition and according to all the polls, the voucher referendum is going to fail. Give the good people of Utah more credit, they are not influenced by outside contributions, they are influenced by what they are seeing in the schools their children attend. They appreciate the teachers and what they are contributing to their children's education.

No teacher in Layton "forced you against vouchers" at Parent Teacher Conferences. The Union and district administration told all teachers to completely stay away from the subject.

If this happened, report the teacher to the school administration or the district today.

Anon: Teachers are not afraid. Voucher or not, we will still wake up in the morning, like we do every morning, and prepare, show up, and teach "your" children. That's what great about our country. All students have a right to an education. We don't kick out the difficult students like in other countries. I do provide a superior product. You are welcome in my classroom anyday.

You do have a right to your opinion, though. I hope vouchers pass, and all of your dreams come true.

No matter what, though. I'll still be here with a smile, because I have the most rewarding job in the world.

(And my reward isn't Oreos).

Robert,

I have children in Alpine School District. We hate it. We hate the math program. We hate being treated poorly. We hate how the district is run. Last Friday my kids carved pumpkins in math class.

I pay taxes and I don't see why I should have to pay twice to educate my child. I'm not a bad person for being unhappy with the district and school. I'm not a bad person for not wanting to pay twice.

I pay taxes for a public transportation system that I do not use...yet, I do not ask the government to help pay for the cost of my private vehicle. I also have the option to send my mail through the U.S. Postal Service, or I can pay a premium and have it sent by UPS or FedEx. Once again, I don't ask the government to subsidize the cost. Vouchers come down to one's viewpoint on society & education. Do you believe in improving schools for ALL children, or do you simply want to isolate YOUR children and put them into a sheltered, protected environment (that they will probably rebel against at some point anyway). This is an elitist proposal that will encourage segregation of our youth. Vouchers were never intended to offer a universal bail-out from public schools that may have challenges, but are far from failing. Vouchers should be limited to low income students that attend under performing public schools. Vote NO on vouchers!

In response to Eric, I have heard many reports of unethical name gathering for the petition. I even talked to one person who thought he was signing FOR vouchers when he signed the petition. They may not have "forced" people to sign, but there were plenty who didn't know what they were signing.

Sad that the vast majority of money spent against vouchers has to come from Teachers fighting to save public education. What won't teachers do to help children. Work for no money - work in horrible conditions with over crowded classrooms. All so the "moral" majority in this state can continue to reproduce like rabbits. Great. I don't know if teachers are saints or enablers.

To Jerry,

Wow, that's a lot of hate. It sounds like you should be making some changes. What are you waiting for? Is it going to take a voucher before you take some responsibility and improve your situation?

Jerry,
How do you figure that you pay taxes twice? As a part of the community, you are obliged to contribute to educating our children, to insure a functioning republic.

Feel free to not avail yourself of those services. Send your kid to private school. Heck, home school your kids for all I care. You have that option available to you (without vouchers). Just don't ask me to pay for your choice.

I'm the one that doesn't want to be taxed twice!