SALT LAKE CITY - Just like a little kid stomping its feet, the Utah Legislature approved $101 million in federal money for Utah teachers. In a special session called by Governor Gary Herbert, lawmakers called the bill that created the funding “sinister” and the money itself “crack cocaine.” They also pledged an end to taking federal dollars. Governor Herbert was pleased they approved accepting the money.
The money is Utah’s share of a $10 billion dollar education aid package for the states. It must be used for staff, and the federal law had ways around state legislatures. Individual districts could accept the funding even if the legislature didn’t.
Senator Chris Buttars-R, West Jordan said accepting the money “consummates a takeover by the federal government of the legislative process.” Buttars also ripped up a copy of the Utah Constitution during an attempt to introduce a resolution to refuse the funding.
The four and one half hour tantrum ended with approval by the legislature to accept the money. The senate vote was 22-6, the house 57-14. If they could have refused, schools would have been forced to make a mid-year cut of $50 million.
Utah ranks dead last in the nation in funding per student.
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Source: Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News
Comments
What is the story about federal government control of Utah after receiving the federal education money.
So far, all news articles indicate nothing about the actual control by the federal government. Instead only comments of unknown threat, and child-like remarks of legislators about the threat with no data or detail of the obligations assigned in the federal legislation or federal regulations related to the aid money.
So where is the story?
Some members of the Utah legislature believe that by putting strings on this money - and there are strings - the federal government is controlling the state government. Earlier articles listed at the bottom of this one covered that. You can click on these and learn more.
A lot of states' rights message legislation was passed during the last session - intrastate commerce, health care, education. Immigration law is another very current example. I thought this was settled in 1865. Some don't agree.
Don't those fools on the hill realize where the money they just accepted comes from. It's from our taxes. Since they won't fund education, someone has to. If it's the feds, so be it.
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