Huntsman issued a statement Saturday saying he would call a special session "if necessary" to ensure a decisive November referendum on vouchers - an apparent reversal to his joint statement with Senate President John Valentine and House Speaker Greg Curtis.
The trio announced Thursday that a special session "will not be called since an easy and practical remedy does not exist."
Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower said Sunday the governor's position hasn't changed. Huntsman's goal has been an up-or-down voucher vote, which he believed could be achieved without a special session.
But almost as soon as Thursday's joint statement was issued - pledging to "honor the rule of law" and "respect the outcome of the election" - Huntsman and his legislative counterparts found themselves at odds over its meaning.
The governor argued vouchers should live or die based on the popular vote - even if vouchers prevail by one vote. Legislative leaders countered that Utahns should settle the issue based on a majority of legislative districts.
To complicate matters further, Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble and Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, filed a petition Thursday with the Utah Supreme Court claiming vouchers are here to stay regardless of the outcome of the November vote on HB 148.
They argue vouchers were also established in House bill 174, an amendment to the original bill that used much of its predecessor's language and passed with a referendum-proof two-thirds vote in the House and Senate.
"Gov. Huntsman anticipates that the courts will clarify the questions surrounding the voucher vote," Mower said. "However, if the courts do not clarify the voucher questions, calling a special session of the Legislature to address these concerns is an option the governor is willing to use."
In his statement Saturday, Huntsman said voters deserve a "clear pathway forward on Utah's voucher policy." Their voice should be the "ultimate decision," he said.
Meanwhile, the Utah State Board of Education meets Tuesday to decide whether it will implement a voucher system as advised by Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. Officials expect litigation to follow either decision.
* Establishes a scholarship program for qualifying school-age children who newly enroll in eligible private schools, and lower income school-age children who continue their enrollment in eligible private schools.
* Provides for scholarships within that program of $500 to $3,000, depending on family size and income, increasing those scholarship amounts in future years.
* Allows school districts to retain some per-student funding for scholarship students who transfer to private schools.
In his words: Guv's statement
Governor calls for voucher clarity: When voters enter the polling booths in November they deserve a clear pathway forward on Utah's voucher policy. Right now there are several lawsuits moving through the judicial system and I will be watching with great interest to see if clarity results. If the voters of Utah are not given understanding from that judicial process within a reasonable amount of time, I will do whatever is necessary to ensure an up or down vote. I consider the public's voice on the HB 148 referendum to be the ultimate decision on Utah's voucher policy. I will call the Legislature into a special session if necessary to assure the finality of the November vote.
