The Associated Press | Posted: Saturday, May 5, 2007 11:00 pm
SALT LAKE CITY -- This is certain: Utah voters will cast ballots on the state's school-voucher program.
What still is uncertain is just when they'll vote.
Gov. Jon Huntsman now says he's leaning toward November, instead of February, if lawmakers agree to pick up costs incurred by local governments.
Huntsman had planned to put vouchers on the Feb. 5 ballot, the day of Utah's presidential primary. But on Friday, he said he may take the referendum "to the people sooner rather than later."
The governor can set a special election in November without the Legislature's approval.
Lawmakers and Huntsman created vouchers in February, granting $500 to $3,000 for each child sent to private school. There are some restrictions, but no other state offers such a broad program.
Opponents, however, collected enough petition signatures to suspend the law and force a statewide vote on the issue.
House Speaker Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, said he would not oppose a November election.
"The public has asked for a vote. We need to get it to them," he said.
The Legislature passed two voucher laws, but the referendum is aimed only at the first one.
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said vouchers can start with the second law, but the state school board has declined to act, saying there isn't enough in it to write rules for the program. A lawsuit is likely.
"I question why (the board) is not following the law," Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said. "We will be having discussions with the State Board of Education very soon."
Pro-voucher spokeswoman Leah Barker accused the school board of "totally dragging their feet."
Huntsman said he doesn't plan to call a special session to ask lawmakers to clear up any confusion between the two voucher laws.
"We all know there will be some critical court cases that play out in the next few months," he said.
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B3.