Reader comments
Utah school board urges vetoes by Huntsman

jclarke | 12:28 a.m. March 8, 2008

Burningham has it right. Huntsman should line item veto this horrible angling of political power. Many are the politicians who seek to close the system of representation in exchange for a system of high stakes bartering, back door chicanery, and smoke and mirrors.

Many of the bills rolled into the omnibus bills were very much defeated.

Where are the statesmen in Utah? Where are the ethics of this omnibus chicanery? Is education to be left to political bargaining or what is best for the individual child?

Bob G | 4:02 a.m. March 8, 2008

The state board of education needs to understand that the education system in Utah cannot continue as usual in corruption and fraud of its funding. The best course of action to take is to release all board members; and hold a special state wide election to put education and its resources in the hands of all state school districts and not just one or two districts in the Salt Lake area. At the state level the governor should have the line item veto ability to cut the pork and fat from legislation. If vetoed items are a necessary for the legislation then the legislators can always convene and override a veto, thus keeping add on pork out of legislative lobbyists. Once proposed legislation is apporved there should be no other attachments or add ons outside the scope of the Bill. It's criminal that add on projects and costs are added to a Bill without proper discussion or debate. Concievably, this is fraudlent acts by special interest groups, the legislators, and lobbyists.

Abuse of power | 4:52 a.m. March 8, 2008

It is ironic that the school board speaks of an abuse of power. Few organizations anywhere abuse the appropriations process as much as public education. They will not hesitate to use school children in an effort to manipulate parents into prodding legislators to get what education demands, whether or not it fits the overall state budget. The ed establishment wants your tax money with no strings attached. They see themselves as the experts, bristle when we ask them to account for their use of tax dollars, and accuse anyone asking "why?" as being anti-education. I once respected Mr. Burningham, but that respect was lost about a decade ago. He's the worst of the lot.

Comments continue below

Simply wrong | 7:50 a.m. March 8, 2008

I don't care if you like the omnibus bill or not.. Simply the way it came about is wrong and immoral. I urge the governor to strike out against those things which were voted down during the session. Part of this bill was an attempt by the legislature to get even over the voucher loss by the voters. You look at the people pushing for it and you fi d most of them making money off of charter schools. Sheldon killpack is the VP of a company that runs charter schools. Every time charter funding increases he gets a raise. What an evil secret combination! Throw the bums out.

Anonymous | 7:55 a.m. March 8, 2008

First veto should be or any teachers raises ubtill the students scores improve and 9 percent of the students meet the no child left behind. If the teachers union in aginst something that means it will cut their power of pay check

Anonymous | 8:58 a.m. March 8, 2008

Ethics in politics? That always lacks in Utah as it does elsewhere. After all, they are required to police themselves.

Veto the pork as suggested.

Utah Valley Resident | 9:21 a.m. March 8, 2008

In my opinion, that is a lot of 'chicanery' going on in the legislature, but also in the realms of the 'education industry' in the State of Utah as well. It appears to this observer that the taxpayers are left out of the picture, and relegated to watching powerlessly on the sidelines this power struggle play itself out. Most, if not all of the players in this struggle are not looking at it with real intent. We see educational costs spiraling out of control. the focus seems to be on oil costs, but when you analyze the economic picture, educational costs FAR EXCEED the increases in other areas of the economy. Wake up citizens of Utah.....the students in the system are being used as pawns to line the pockets of people in the educational industry on the backs of the taxpayers. As soon as someone raises a legitimate question about any of these matters, they are tarred and feathered by the major players in the UEA and State Education Board, and any other vested special interest group. Let's put aside all of this posturing and blowhard rhetoric, and calm down and start discussing the real issues rationally.

arc | 9:22 a.m. March 8, 2008

Based on who voted for the bill, basically all the senate and more than have the house, and many of the pro education house reps like Bigelow, I say keep the bill as is.

Anonymous | 9:49 a.m. March 8, 2008

9 percent?

Wow that was some interesting typing....

NewsFlash | 10:24 a.m. March 8, 2008

Superintendent Harrington, the governor cannot line item veto the No Child Left Behind portion of the bill.

Worst Leg Session Ever? | 11:13 a.m. March 8, 2008

The Omnibus bill stink makes this whole session one of the worst ever.

The next chance we get, throw them out, especially Killpack.

It is rich for the School Board and their Teacher's Union Brownshirts to rail against abuse of power.

The PTA is just an auxillary group for the UEA Brownshirts.

Worst Leg Session Ever? | 11:18 a.m. March 8, 2008

Throw out Curtis, an associate of the infamous Anderson Development group.

Bramble is another author of this junk session. He's too enamored of his own magnificent intellect.

Also get rid of Valentine; he seems to have lost his moorings.

Though I am not a Democrat, the Democratic leadership seems to be a cut or two above the Republicans.

Rural reader | 3:26 p.m. March 8, 2008

It is interesting to read the posting to this point. There may be some abuse of power, but the biggest abuser of power is the State Board of Education and their twin Sister the UEA. Let the bill go through and make the twin Sisters deal with it.

Tom | 3:41 p.m. March 8, 2008

@ "Bob G": Half of the State Board of Ed is up for election this year (as with every even-numbered year). If you feel that strongly, the filing period to get your name on the ballot is right now.

Conejo | 4:38 p.m. March 8, 2008

Could the State Board of Education, the UEA, and the NEA please just take over the world as soon as possible? I am getting sick of having to waste time waiting to hear them tell us what is best for us on EVERY issue. We already know they know best. Lets stop pretending they don't. Who do we think we are anyway to think otherwise?

To Utah Valley Resident | 5:25 p.m. March 8, 2008

FYI: The percentage of spending on Education in relation to the entire state budget has been shrinking over the last decade. In many states, the education budget is nearly 3/4 of the overall state budget. In Utah, we are now less than 1/2. That is a travesty when you consider that Utah still has the highest birthrate in the country even though it has shrunk considerably since the 1980's. Many people in Utah simply view education as a burden on society. I remember in the 1990's, our legislature gave big tax breaks to business to lure them to Utah with the promise that the additional tax revenues would help public education. Those tax breaks were very effective in luring business to the state, but when the payoff came in higher tax revenues, the legislature didn't keep their promises, but instead gave that money back as well. Is it any wonder we have problems with education funding? We want people to move here, but we don't want to pay to educate their children. Go figure!! Perhaps, someday, we will get our priorities straightened out.

re:Conejo | 7:23 p.m. March 8, 2008

The UEA and NEA are organizations that do work with educators, and it might be a good idea to listen.
teachers live for the students more than legislators.

Listen to what Reg has to say and give it a shot.

Anonymous | 10:42 p.m. March 8, 2008

I think the education committtee of the legislature and the school board need to try to work together. A lot of good could be accomplished if you would.

Education is hurting and you need to cooperate. Math education has gone considerably downhill. I wish you would both cooperate and fix this.

Conejo | 11:28 p.m. March 15, 2008

Didn't I already say the UEA and NEA should take over? Why are you arguing with me? Give them an empty check to the state coffers. I'm sure they wouldn't take more than needed.

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