Even With Improvements, Voucher System Still "Bad" for Opponents

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Even with some small improvements, Utah's new school voucher system is a bitter pill for opponents to swallow. For the most part, lawmakers who ardently oppose using public taxes to pay private school tuition felt obligated to vote in favor of a bill to make some tweaks.

The changes include having a statewide audit of the program in five years and requiring private schools that take voucher money to do criminal background checks on teachers. Representative Brad Last - a long time opponent of vouchers - reversed his opinion to support the bill and then sponsor the changes.

"I think this makes the bill a little better, so let's try to make this thing work," said Last.

If approved by the Senate and Governor, the changes will go into effect with the rest of the voucher program this Fall.

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