Democratic Party leader says ruling lets Utahns’ voices be heard

SALT LAKE CITY -- Wayne Holland, chair of the Democratic Party of Utah, praised a unanimous ruling issued Friday by the Utah Supreme Court that paved the way for voters to decide the fate of a controversial school-voucher program in a referendum scheduled for November.

“The majority of Utahns don’t want to subsidize private academies for a select few,” said Holland. “The ruling today allows their opinions to be heard.”

The Democratic Party of Utah believes that Utahns deserve nothing short of the best neighborhood-based public education system in the country. Holland said it is “unconscionable” that when Utah ranks last in the country in per-student funding, taxpayers should fund a $425 million right-wing ideological experiment that could siphon off money to pay teachers what they deserve and erode a high-tech educational infrastructure that serves every child in Utah.

“Utah’s neighborhood schools have been vital parts of communities throughout most of our state history,” Holland said. “They are part of who we are and must continue to be protected and strengthened as the foundation of our commitment to our children who will always be our most valuable resource.”

Holland added that it is unfortunate the Utah Supreme Court had to clean up a mess created by a Republican Legislature and governor unwilling to take responsibility for it in a special session.

“The ruling demonstrates that our democratic system of checks and balances in Utah can override the whims of a few arrogant, out-of-touch Republican lawmakers,” Holland said.