In their recent newsletter, the voucher advocates wrote: "The education establishment continues to use public resources paid for by your tax dollars, in their campaign to take choice away from Utah parents," the newsletter said. "This week in the launch of their campaign, opponents of parental choice drove a Salt Lake School District bus across three counties."

Wrong!

The bus in question was rented from the private company Serv-A-Bus, using the Utahns for Public Schools' own money. No public money or resource was used.

Lisa Johnson, who arranged for the private bus, says she will be happy to provide an invoice and the bus driver's cell phone number for any skeptics.

Meanwhile: Utah legislative leaders held their second meeting Thursday with a group of lobbyists who the legislators selected to help cultivate public acceptance of school vouchers.

The lobbyists were assigned at the first meeting to give progress reports on what their organizations are doing to "educate" the public on the virtues of vouchers and why November's ballot referendum to repeal the recently passed voucher law should be defeated.

The lobbyists - about 20 of them - were told at the first meeting they were being asked to help beat the referendum because their organizations - which represent food retailers, mining companies, manufacturers, small businesses, trucking companies, utilities, etc. - were part of former Gov. Mike Leavitt's business-education coalition that included tuition tax credits in its report on education reform. Coincidentally, many of these organizations are dependent on the Legislature for certain tax incentives their industries enjoy.

The lobbyists were assigned to come back in about a week to report on their continuing progress.

Voucher supporters? The Utah Republican Party recently held a golf tournament at Thanksgiving Point to raise money for the party.

Sponsors of the tournament who gave $1,000 were honored with "thank you" signs at the various holes.

One sign thanked "Gold Cross Ambulence."

Apparently, spell-checkers cost more than the $1,000.

Lost in translation: A billboard sponsored by Mike Hale Chevrolet that faces northbound traffic on State Street at about 5900 South in Murray proclaims that drunken drivers in Utah are "Utards."

The message would be noble if it didn't contain a play on a word that is considered the worst kind of smear to people with developmental disabilities and their families.

How about changing it to "Uturds?"

prolly@sltrib.com