logo_npr-pri-bbc

Voucher Opponent Victory Signals Start of New Battle

None by KCPW

Members of the PTA gather to celebrate their signature-collection efforts.

(KCPW News) Yesterday afternoon was the deadline for a volunteer-run group hoping to overturn the Utah Legislature's decision to implement school vouchers statewide. The group is confident they have the signatures they need to put vouchers on the ballot for the next general election - if not earlier. And as KCPW's Julie Rose reports, the victory for voucher opponents signals the start of an even bigger battle:

Download this audio file

 


Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW

1. Mickey Gallivan said:

Julie - fine story on the voucher petition drive. One minor correction. This is not "the first statewide referendum since 1974...more than 30 years ago." In 2002, I chaired a successful petition drive to place on the ballot a tax on radioactive waste brought into Utah. It took an appeal to the Utah Supreme Court and a personal lawsuit against us from six Utah state legislators. They were so angry at us that they passed the present super-restrictive law requiring signatures from 10% of the voters from all counties in Utah, truly a Legislature's effort to effectively deny citizens the constitutional right to initiative referenda. Congratulations to Pat Rusk et al from overcoming this shameful burdon.Envirocare spent $7 million to smother us in the 2002 general election. But at least we allowed the people a chance to vote for the same taxation that is charged by other states who accept outsiders' radioactive waste. Incidently, latter day Envirocare is now Energy Solutions who has doubled the amount of radioactive waste they bring into Utah since 2002. Best regards, Mickey Gallivan Utahns Against Radioactive Waste (extinct)

Add your comment: