Utah Gov. Spencer Cox announced Thursday he will veto a school choice bill that has worked its way through the state Legislature, sparking criticism from conservatives.
During a press conference Thursday, Cox, a Republican, said that he would veto a bill that would establish an education scholarship program in the state.
The governor said “now is not the time” to enact the legislation, even after mentioning teachers have struggled in the past two years amid the pandemic.
On the voucher bill, @GovCox says he believes in choice.
But he’s NOT ready to support the legislation because of education funding issues, inflation, etc.
“Now is not the time,” he says. @fox13 #utpol #utleg
— Ben Winslow (@BenWinslow) February 17, 2022
COVID-19 SCHOOL CLOSURES LED TO A BOOM OF SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL CHOICE
Conservatives on Twitter were quick to point out Cox had received a $75,000 campaign donation from the National Education Association, the nation’s largest teacher union that has universally opposed school choice policies nationwide.
Utah Governor @GovCox (R) received $75,000 from the nation’s largest teachers union in 2020.
The Utah state teachers union also endorsed him. pic.twitter.com/bGITWT6Rzu
— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) February 17, 2022
Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker expressed surprise that such a bill would be vetoed in Utah, a heavily conservative state where Republicans typically dominate elections.
In Utah?!?
Let’s fund students instead of systems! https://t.co/WO0HADkNIV
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) February 17, 2022
Corey DeAngelis, the director of research for the American Federation for Children, tweeted a poll that showed three-quarters of Utah residents supported school choice policies.
75% of Utah residents support funding students instead of systems: pic.twitter.com/iaS5wXaWsc
— Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) February 17, 2022
School choice has seen a renewed push at the state legislative level amid a wave of increased support for such policies following pandemic-induced school closures. Several states — including Arizona, Florida, and Missouri — have pushed new legislation expanding school choice policies in the last year.
