Ralph Becker Fights for Public Education and Applauds Supreme Court Decision on Vouchers

Ralph Becker, a long-time opponent of vouchers in Utah, applauded the Utah Supreme Court’s decision Friday that recognizesd both the will of the people and the letter of the law.

As the Democratic leader in the House, Rep. Becker (D-Salt Lake City) led the fight against vouchers, which passed the House by a single vote in February. Along with Senator Dimitrich and the Legislative Democratic Caucuses, he also pushed hard for a special session to address the confusion of two voucher bills, forcefully urged the state board of education to stand up to the Utah Attorney General’s interpretation of the validity of the second voucher bill, and fought to clarify the language of the referendum for November’s vote.

“It is deeply wrong to underfund Utah public schools and at the same time even more in order to subsidize private education,” Becker said on Friday. “Our per-pupil spending is last in the nation, and the distance between Utah and the next lowest state has grown to more than $1000 per student. Our children deserve the opportunity, the gift, of public education that only society can give them.”

Becker has a blueprint for how Salt Lake City will play an active role in developing a top-tier education system for its children. “The mayor has a responsibility to promote the interest of public school students and parents, as well as the interest of taxpayers who help fund the schools. As mayor of Salt Lake City, I will work hard every day to make Salt Lake City’s public schools the best in the region.”

In the next two weeks, Ralph Becker will present his education platform to accomplish these ambitious goals.

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