Reader comments
An alternative to vouchers in the works?

Watch carefully as this emerges from behind the bushes. They tried to take our taxes out the front door and now they are looking into taking them out the back door.

I guess a "NO" from the voters does not really mean "no" to people in high places and rich people! This just radifies how these people think. "I can do it anyway, so there".

These legislators better take another look at what this past vote said about the public education system in Utah. Almost half the voters are complaining that the education system in Utah is not working and seeking other means of getting an education for thier children. Legislators can not deny that just because the voucher system did not pass this time does not mean a future effort may get more positive results. The majority vote shot down the vouchers but the minority vote also made a statement, Utah's education system is failing to educate the children. Their own statictics prove this fact. Any legislator fool enough to ignore the minority, a large minority, better take another look at this issue. It's not the money, it's the poor quality of education from the system people are tired of paying for. The legislators still need to fix the fraud, waste, and abuse of education funds and if they refuse to fix it then people are going to look for other ways to get around the corrupted system in Utah education. They want their children educated, they are not after the money, only want what they are being taxed for, an educated graduate.

"Still, in last week's election, 'the public said they did not want any kind of private school actions on dealing with student growth,' Valentine said."

There were many people who voted against Ref #1. I know many who were voting against the specific voucher program and not vouchers in general.

368 were granted scholorships (WOW !!! that took alot of burden off of our schools) ... The rich or well to do are just going to find anyway possible for us hard working , barely getting by , live pay check to pay check , common folks to pay for their education ...

Be very clear their are only a few who will reap the benefits of the tax write offs or vouchers or business grants !!!

Your taxes?! These are clearly someone elses taxes. We are really get at the root of the voucher opposition: They seem to feel they own everyone's wallet and in the good, big brother sense are entitled to tell everyone what they can do with everyone elses money.

For all of you anti-voucher people who say you are not opposed to private schools, just don't make you pay for them, kindof smokes out your misrepresentation doesn't it. Now we are talking about a tax credit, translation, they just don't pay taxes on what they spend on private school tuition, and they don't even get a complete break. They still pay taxes on some of it.

It is amazing that folks like Janey are unwilling to fix what could be called a flat tire, i.e. our education system. It is an antiquated system people. Why stick with something created two centuries ago?

Sorry, Janey, but they aren't "your taxes". Just because you steal something from me doesn't make it yours. Anyone want to guess why the legislature tried vouchers in 2007 but are making 2008 about "working within the public education system, not outside of it"? Can anybody spell "re-election"? The voucher bill was awful, but that doesn't change the fact that our public education system is woefully unprepared for the influx of students. And somehow they have the unmitigated gall to act surprised when there are more students than they predicted! Here's a suggestion: when you're trying to estimate the future school population, try talking to the city planners in your school district and asking them how many new homes are going up. But when you're running the state's largest monopoly, why bother?

I supported bouchers.

But, I agree with Janey. ALWAYS watch what the Legislature does.

Let's just have a flat tax the only fair tax system!

Do away with No Deductions we would have plenty for schools.

I'm sick of the rich not paying their fare share!
A flat tax is the fair way!

If the predominant faith and republicans to boot want something passed it will be passed. It won't stop until they get their way one way or the other.

Instead of just offering a tax credit for corporations who donate to scholarships for private schools, how about tax credits are offered to corporations who donate to public school funds as well?

While i didn't support vouchers this go around due to loopholes and the GUV's lie about reducing class size, it is a free market economy and folks should be able to take some of their dollars and move them to where they feel best for their child IF the education meets a minimum standard that society agrees prepares our young people for the future. As far as tax deductions for businesses, we have to be careful as folks can create their own business on paper and funnel all their tax liability into this as stated in the article. at the same time EVERYONE in society has the responsibility to educate the masses (our society's children) in a way that improves society. teachers need better pay via performance incentives as happens in most other industries now. better teachers are rewarded, better teaching occurs, better prepared students should be the result. we have to be careful that the "rich (don't) get richer while the poor get the picture when they're down so low" as said so nicely by Midnight Oil's Peter Garrett. unfortunately,
in the end, vouchers may just be one more step toward societal hierarchal stratification between the haves/havenots.

I'm a republican and I just want the legislators to take notice. I will not vote for any legislator that tries in any way to go against public education.

Your reign of "power" is over. The public has spoken. Start doing what you are told to do instead of what you want to do.

You work for us. Start acting like it!

If the money is used for education, it's not being "taken" from anywhere except the UEA. From my perspective, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The UEA, whether you like Utah's public education or not, has become the most brazen and powerful lobby in the state. It has been that way for decades. I know personally of individuals they lobbied out of office because they suggested a policy that the UEA didn't like. The voucher debacle is a good example of the UEA's hegimony. They weren't even going to lose money, but someone else was going to be given money (and, consequently, power). If the UEA wants to maintain its strangle hold on education in Utah, it certainly couldn't tolerate competition. There may be other sensible education reforms in the pike, but if any share power, or money, with a non-UEA entity, you can be certain that it will lose. It's a real travesty that the citizens of Utah are powerless to reign in this lobby behemoth - funded, ironically, by our own taxes.

Is the voucher option for just the rich and holier than though? Offering more options for snobs is creating social classes, isn't it?

If funding private schools was a real reform more Utahns would be for it. What it really is is taking taxes to pay for a secound school district that is unregulated.
Patrick Byrne should have spent his money for the scholarships that went lacking if he really cared.

If I get to say where my tax money goes & what it's used for, sure! what's the problem??

I sure hope we can spend another $8 million dollars arguing about it and be subjected to another statewide "IQ test". I need more arrogance to go with my bitterness.

Who are they helping?? figure $1,800 x 368 comes to $662,400 where did the spend the rest of the 2 million they have "begged" for????