Legislators Support Earlier Election on Vouchers

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) Both Democrats and Republicans in the Utah State Legislature say they like the Governor's new plan to hold the voucher referendum election this November, rather than waiting until next year:

"I think for the most part the Senate Republicans want to have a vote the sooner the better," says Senate President Jon Valentine.

He says his Republican colleagues would probably not be interested in meeting in special session to straighten out a loophole that could leave vouchers on the books regardless of the voter referendum. House Majority Leader Dave Clark agrees, saying he would quote "absolutely not" want a special session on vouchers.

House Minority Leader Ralph Becker says democrats want both a November election and a special session.

"In fact we have a letter going to the Governor today asking for that," says Becker. "The people knew when they signed the petition they were looking at the question of whether or not we should have a voucher system to subsidize private schools. Let's clean up any uncertainty associated with the language and get that basic question to the people."

Governor Huntsman says he's inclined to skip the special session and let the courts decide how to handle the loophole lawmakers created by passing a bill of amendments to the voucher system. Huntsman says he wants cities to pick up some of the tab for the November election, since it's an already-scheduled municipal election.

Valentine, Clark and Becker all say it might be more fair for the state to cover the cost, which could be close to 3 and a half million dollars.

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