SALT LAKE CITY – Solution-oriented Democratic lawmakers have sent a letter to Gov. Jon Huntsman re-emphasizing the need for a special session to resolve conflict surrounding the two voucher bills passed in the 2007 General Session.
“Please place this cleanup on a Special Session agenda,” the letter to Huntsman says. “As you have said, the voice and vote of the people of Utah should be the foundation for the future of vouchers in Utah.”
Democrats are supporting a proposal from Republican Reps. Mel Brown and Kay McIff to repeal HB 174 until the referendum vote in November. If the referendum fails then the Legislature can implement HB 174.
Democrats strongly encourage Senate President Valentine and House Speaker Curtis to support the Brown/McIff plan.
A copy of the letter sent to the governor is below, as is the letter Democrats sent to the governor on May 8, 2007.
Contact: Bill Keshlear
(801) 328-1212, ext. 206; (801) 699-7773, cell
bkeshlear@utdemocrats.org
June 7, 2007
The Honorable Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Governor of the State of Utah
E220 State Capitol Complex
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
Dear Governor Huntsman:
We would like to reiterate our request that you call a Special Session to address the confusion associated with the ballot referendum on vouchers. (See attached May 8 letter.) The current mess caused by varying interpretations of the effect of two pieces of legislation on vouchers that was not intended by legislators during the General Session is creating a mockery of our democratic processes and costing taxpayers unnecessary legal costs.
In our prior letter to you, we suggested that a Special Session reconcile the contorted interpretation of HB 148 and HB 174. A proposal from Representatives Mel Brown and Kay McIff suggests that HB 174 be repealed until after the referendum vote in November. In the event that the referendum fails, the legislature can then reenact HB 174. This would clear up any confusion about what the voters will be deciding in November. We are sure there are several approaches to addressing the current situation, but it is clear that the State’s policy makers (Legislature and Governor) have a responsibility to address this matter.
We strongly encourage you to call a Special Session to accomplish this common sense solution. We urge Republican leadership to support the Brown/McIff proposal so that we may resolve the confusion that the voucher issue has caused.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
Sincerely,
Ralph Becker Mike Dmitrich
House Minority Leader Senate Minority Leader
Cc: President John Valentine
Speaker Greg Curtis
Utah Legislators
State Board of Education
May 8, 2007
The Honorable Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Governor of the State of Utah
E220 State Capitol Complex
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
Dear Governor Huntsman:
We understand that you will not be calling a Special Session in May, deciding rather to hold the voucher referendum vote in November. We think that a Special Session is imperative to cleanup the statutory confusion over the conflicting language in the Voucher bills passed last legislative session.
The two voucher bills, HB 148 and HB 174, were inextricably linked, and as near as we can tell, nobody, including legislative counsel, anticipated the odd result of the latter bill being able to stand as a separate mandate to implement a voucher law. Throughout the presentation and debate of the bill, it was proposed as a cleanup of HB 148, and votes of many who otherwise would have voted against the bill, were made on the basis that addressed some of the problems with HB 148.
Further, and we believe most important (and consistent with your remarks), the public knows that the referendum on vouchers was on the question of whether Utah should allow vouchers for private schools. That will properly be the focus of the election. Any technical issues from different interpretations of the legislation is extraneous to this basic issue that the people of Utah have the right to express themselves on. We should not be wasting State resources and the people’s energy on a red herring.
Please place this cleanup on a Special Session agenda. As you have said, the voice and vote of the people of Utah should be the foundation for the future of vouchers in Utah.
We welcome any further discussion on this issue, and hope you will help provide some certainty on this matter by providing a way to clean up conflicting interpretations of whether vouchers should be implemented in the middle of a referendum called by the people.
Sincerely,
Ralph Becker Mike Dmitrich
On behalf of Utah Democratic Legislators
Cc: Utah State School Board, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Utah legislators
“Please place this cleanup on a Special Session agenda,” the letter to Huntsman says. “As you have said, the voice and vote of the people of Utah should be the foundation for the future of vouchers in Utah.”
Democrats are supporting a proposal from Republican Reps. Mel Brown and Kay McIff to repeal HB 174 until the referendum vote in November. If the referendum fails then the Legislature can implement HB 174.
Democrats strongly encourage Senate President Valentine and House Speaker Curtis to support the Brown/McIff plan.
A copy of the letter sent to the governor is below, as is the letter Democrats sent to the governor on May 8, 2007.
Contact: Bill Keshlear
(801) 328-1212, ext. 206; (801) 699-7773, cell
bkeshlear@utdemocrats.org
June 7, 2007
The Honorable Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Governor of the State of Utah
E220 State Capitol Complex
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
Dear Governor Huntsman:
We would like to reiterate our request that you call a Special Session to address the confusion associated with the ballot referendum on vouchers. (See attached May 8 letter.) The current mess caused by varying interpretations of the effect of two pieces of legislation on vouchers that was not intended by legislators during the General Session is creating a mockery of our democratic processes and costing taxpayers unnecessary legal costs.
In our prior letter to you, we suggested that a Special Session reconcile the contorted interpretation of HB 148 and HB 174. A proposal from Representatives Mel Brown and Kay McIff suggests that HB 174 be repealed until after the referendum vote in November. In the event that the referendum fails, the legislature can then reenact HB 174. This would clear up any confusion about what the voters will be deciding in November. We are sure there are several approaches to addressing the current situation, but it is clear that the State’s policy makers (Legislature and Governor) have a responsibility to address this matter.
We strongly encourage you to call a Special Session to accomplish this common sense solution. We urge Republican leadership to support the Brown/McIff proposal so that we may resolve the confusion that the voucher issue has caused.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
Sincerely,
Ralph Becker Mike Dmitrich
House Minority Leader Senate Minority Leader
Cc: President John Valentine
Speaker Greg Curtis
Utah Legislators
State Board of Education
May 8, 2007
The Honorable Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Governor of the State of Utah
E220 State Capitol Complex
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114
Dear Governor Huntsman:
We understand that you will not be calling a Special Session in May, deciding rather to hold the voucher referendum vote in November. We think that a Special Session is imperative to cleanup the statutory confusion over the conflicting language in the Voucher bills passed last legislative session.
The two voucher bills, HB 148 and HB 174, were inextricably linked, and as near as we can tell, nobody, including legislative counsel, anticipated the odd result of the latter bill being able to stand as a separate mandate to implement a voucher law. Throughout the presentation and debate of the bill, it was proposed as a cleanup of HB 148, and votes of many who otherwise would have voted against the bill, were made on the basis that addressed some of the problems with HB 148.
Further, and we believe most important (and consistent with your remarks), the public knows that the referendum on vouchers was on the question of whether Utah should allow vouchers for private schools. That will properly be the focus of the election. Any technical issues from different interpretations of the legislation is extraneous to this basic issue that the people of Utah have the right to express themselves on. We should not be wasting State resources and the people’s energy on a red herring.
Please place this cleanup on a Special Session agenda. As you have said, the voice and vote of the people of Utah should be the foundation for the future of vouchers in Utah.
We welcome any further discussion on this issue, and hope you will help provide some certainty on this matter by providing a way to clean up conflicting interpretations of whether vouchers should be implemented in the middle of a referendum called by the people.
Sincerely,
Ralph Becker Mike Dmitrich
On behalf of Utah Democratic Legislators
Cc: Utah State School Board, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Utah legislators
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