Deseret News | Group sues to overturn omnibus bill

Reader comments
Group sues to overturn omnibus bill

Anonymous | 6:44 a.m. May 29, 2008

Another misleading headline. According to the article the group is planning to sue, but hasn't sued yet.

Robert H | 7:30 a.m. May 29, 2008

Unless I missed it, who are these 40 people? Are they listed anywhere?

Anonymous | 7:40 a.m. May 29, 2008

This bill is an abomination! Itï¿½s not only that the legislators rolled many bills together into one. Itï¿½s also that they took bills that did not pass in the first place and raised them from the dead, placing them in this bill. They must have been planning to do so for some time, because they held back the good bills that passed with overwhelming success in the House or the Senate (not allowing them to be voted on and continue through the process) and in the final day sprung SB2 on everyone. Giving us precious little time to understand what was going on, and get public input. Some legislators were concerned, voiced their concern while the bill was being debated, and were discounted for raising questions. This is a sham! We canï¿½t allow our legislators to continue to manipulate the processes in place that protest our public welfare. Congratulations to the watch dogs willing to deal with those who continue this exploitation of power.

Comments continue below

HAL | 7:58 a.m. May 29, 2008

Professor | 8:12 a.m. May 29, 2008

This is simply a vocal group who wants to "pay back" the legislature for passing the voucher bill. We as citizens voted against vouchers. The question before us is will we, who voted against vouchers, jump onboard Janet's smear campaign?

Perhaps it would be good for all of us to read Senate Bill 2. As for me, I certainly don't want the raises for our teachers negated by divisive political lawsuits. Janet, count me out. Teachers come first.

to Professor | 9:03 a.m. May 29, 2008

Count me in! This is the government at it's worst! Thank goodness someone is keeping an eye on the legislature to ensure this kind of "pork spending" doesn't happen again.

I am all for teachers getting pay increase but not MILLIONS going to Waterford School so that 3 year olds can have laptops!

Parent | 9:30 a.m. May 29, 2008

Professor, COUNT ME OUT! This type of grandstanding that Janet Jenson, Kim Burningham and company are involved with is simply immoral. Give our teachers the raises SB2 gave them!

Anonymous | 3:00 p.m. May 29, 2008

Give the teachers the raises! Why do we have state school board members and legislators trying to withhold them? Probably because it rewards teachers and takes aware from their own power and control.

Laws & sausages | 4:15 p.m. May 29, 2008

"Citizens should not know how laws or sausages are made."

That witicism notwithstanding, I reel at the foul stench emminating from Utah's Hill. This good ol' boy system has got to be replaced by some honest legislators who will quit coniving, eschew arrogance, and seek the will of the people above their own.

Exactly! | 4:34 p.m. May 29, 2008

The comments above demonstrate exactly why combining bills together causes so much trouble and is prohibited by the Utah constitution. Teachers absolutely should receive those increases--and I expect that even if the courts determine the bill to be unconstitutional there will be significant pressure on the legislature to protect teacher pay increases through a special session. There are other very worthy programs included in the bill. But as a commenter correctly points out, the bill also includes millions for funding a private school program that couldn't pass the legislature on its own. Worthy programs were held hostage to the pork of a handful of legislators. Such behavior is unconscionable, and deserves a response.

Virgo | 5:33 p.m. May 29, 2008

We here in Draper have our lovely Senator, Howard Stephenson (who sponsored the bill), to thank for the education omnibus bill. This bill is an example of how arrogant our legislators have become, thinking they can "sneak" a few things (that had not previously passed the house or senate) into a bill, in the waning moments of the legislative session without the notice of their constituents. This is a bad bill if for nothing else than to show our arrogant legislators that people do notice what they do, it should be overturned.

Tired of legislative payback | 10:06 p.m. May 29, 2008

I truely hope this lawsuit goes forward and wins! The state legislature needs to know that they cannot include everything (especially things that didn't pass) on the last day so legistators HAVE to vote for it. It was an example of the legislature at it's very WORST...and there have been a lot of examples lately.

Corruption | 9:18 a.m. May 31, 2008

I applaud the efforts of these good people for pushing back on the passage of SB2. It is a corrupt and evil group of men who pushed for SB2 trying to shove their wills over the will of the public. SB2 not only included bills which had previously failed and held a gun to the head of legislators who wanted education funding but it was direct retribution against the publics vote down of the voucher bill. These men will stop at nothing. They are like the unrighteous judges who want only for themselves and not the will of the people. We as a populous must vote out the likes of Howard Stephenson, Brad Last, Greg Curtis, David Clark, Curtis Bramble and others who would put forth such corrupt legislation. It is no secret that these men are no friend to public education and will do anything under their power to see it's demise. They have control and power and use it exert control and power over the people. They would tell us what we need and force it upon us rather than do our... the peoples.... will. We need to vote them out.

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