Score One for Public Schools and Democracy!

It was just announced that both school voucher laws passed during the past legislative session are, in fact, one and the same.

The courts decision states that “if the voters choose to reject [the original voucher law, the amending voucher law] will not create an additional voucher program.” What does this mean? It means the will of the people will be heard come November 6.

My long time complaint concerning school vouchers (aside from the fact that they are terrible for our schools) is that it is a classic example of money ruling legislation.

An example: Parents for Choice in Education (PCE), the principal lobbying group behind the school voucher program, sunk over $375,000 into elections over the past three election cycles. During those same six years 4 people accounted for 75% of all individual contributions and 2 organizations accounted for 84% of all corporate/ PAC contributions. Hardly the will of the people. (Source – www.elections.utah.gov)

I am not naive, I am sure that public school supporters, such as the UEA, have pumped money into elections as well. What I do know is that PCE fought long and hard to change the status quo in their favor, with only 39% of the general public supporting the change (Dan Jones and Associates 3/7-8 2007 Margin of error +/- 5% n=418).

If the public does decide to allow school vouchers, at the very least I can say that it is the will of the people, not a powerful lobby, which brought about the change. If we judge by the numbers above, democracy will succeed in truly creating policies that are representative of the people.