For now, voters get to avoid making a tough policy decision: give the Utah Legislature more flexibility with income tax dollars or get rid of the state portion of sales tax on food. Done in by the same arguments that struck down Amendment D before it, the state conceded the court battle over Amendment A to “prevent unnecessary expenditure of tax dollars.” But just because it’s out of the picture now, doesn’t mean the Legislature is giving up the fight forever.
Voices:
- Brigette Weier, Democratic voter in Salt Lake County
- Nicki Brammer, Republican voter in Utah County
- Renée Pinkney, president of the Utah Education Association
- Karen Peterson, Republican Rep. from Davis County
- Martha Harris, KUER education reporter
- Phil Dean, chief economist with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
Recommended Reading and Listening:
- Judge voids Amendment A. It will still appear on Utah ballots but votes won’t count
- What the proposed Utah Constitution amendment means for education and food taxes
- Amendments and judges are Utah election hot topics. Here’s what Gov. Cox thinks
- It’s been a year of high-profile rulings. Does that ‘politicize’ Utah’s courts?
- Curious how Utah’s ed budget is put together? Here’s a quick guide