Democrats said they haven't seen the proposed voucher bill that Republicans got a glimpse of last week, but four representatives expressed general concerns about any program that would let parents put public education dollars toward private-school tuition.

"With our failure to adequately invest in public education today, for us to look at taking public dollars to subsidize private schools to us is just wrong-headed," House Minority Leader Ralph Becker said.

Rep. LaWanna Shurtliff, D-Ogden, is concerned voucher legislation may trigger a lawsuit. She presented legal opinions about a past voucher bill offered by two high-profile lawyers.

Harold G. Christensen, former deputy attorney general in the Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations, and Michael D. Zimmerman, a former Utah Supreme Court chief justice, both said vouchers violate Utah's Constitution. They cited a section that bans "any appropriation for the direct support of any school . . . controlled by any religious organization."

Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, doubted assertions by sponsor Rep. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, that public schools would not be hurt because they get to keep some of the money for kids who leave with vouchers. "The problem with that is the math has never added up . . . public school still loses."

Voucher legislation by Rep. Stephen Urquhart is still in the drafting stage

Next step: Introduction as a bill to the House