Utah Education Association seeks to void Amendment A from Utah’s ballot, launches opposition campaign
Sep 19, 2024, 12:48 PM | Updated: Sep 23, 2024, 6:34 pm
UPDATE: On Sept. 23, the courts announced they will hear the case over Amendment A on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Both parties will be going over a timeline on the case’s future.
#BREAKING: A 3rd District judge is going to hear the case over Amendment A.
A scheduling hearing has been set for Wednesday at 2 PM, meaning the parties will get together and decide a timeline for the case. @KSL5TV #utpol
BACKGROUND: https://t.co/PzvQkzXxtU pic.twitter.com/PGaV8tZ2Im
— Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) September 23, 2024
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Education Association is asking a judge for an injunction to void Amendment A from being counted in the November election. On the same day, the UEA was part of a coalition of groups who launched a campaign for Utahns to vote against it — if it does stay on the ballot.
Amendment A is a proposed change to the Utah Constitution that would remove the requirement that income taxes fund public education.
If it passes, it would remove the state’s portion of sales tax on food — a move that UEA argues is an attempt by Utah lawmakers to have complete control over the state’s education funds in exchange for a grocery tax cut.
Voiding Amendment A
The petition for an injunction alleges the ballot language, like Amendment D, is misleading to voters and does not give them the information needed to make an informed decision.
Judge rules Amendment D be voided from Utah’s November ballot
“The ballot language is misleading because it misrepresents the substance and effect of Amendment A and because it fails to summarize legislation that would take effect upon its adoption,” it stated.
Further, the complaint argues that the Legislature had a constitutional duty to publish Amendment A in at least one newspaper in every county of the state where newspapers are published for two months immediately preceding the general election on Nov. 5 — something it failed to do.
The tax cut would take effect if Amendment A passes. It would remove the 1.75% state sales tax on food, but the local sales tax on food would remain. Kem C. Gardner Institute economist Phil Dean said the tax removal would save the average Utah family a little over $100 a year.
The lawsuit, which includes the injunction on Amendment D, names the Utah Legislature, Gov. Spencer Cox, Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes, Speaker of the House Mike Schultz, Senate President J. Stuart Adams, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and Alliance for Choice in Education/Ace Scholarships.
#BREAKING: @myuea is now asking a judge to void Amendment A from being counted in November’s election alleging it’s “misleading” and failed to meet the publication requirements.
Amendment A would remove the income tax earmark for education but then remove a sales tax on food.… pic.twitter.com/CuCXv67Npn
— Lindsay Aerts (@LindsayOnAir) September 19, 2024
UEA maintains the amendment threatens protected funding in exchange for the cut, and has said the amendment would move the funding to “private religious school vouchers and politician pet projects.”
The UEA joined with Voices for Utah Children, the Utah PTA, and others Wednesday to launch a kickoff campaign, urging Utahns to vote no on Amendment A if it does end up on the ballot.
“Amendment A would completely undo Utah’s long standing constitutional protection for public school funding in our current state constitution,” said Utah PTA President Corey Fairholme.
There is no word yet on whether a judge might hear the case.
🚫Vote AGAINST Amendment A! This amendment funnels millions of dollars into the hands of state politicians to spend on their own pet projects. pic.twitter.com/uDLJy9SDNP
— Utah Education Association (@myuea) September 13, 2024
Contributing: Lindsay Aerts and Daniel Woodruff, KSL TV
