This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Re "Utah lawmaker: Let's use booze profit for schools" (Tribune, Jan. 9):
Why is it that we're so willing to tax booze drinkers to pay for educating all of Utah's children, but we're so reluctant to raise everyone's taxes to educate their own children?
Of all things in the budget, properly educating our children should be our first priority. However you measure it — by pupil, by taxpayer, by state wealth — Utah is not only last in education funding, it is way last.
We don't need liquor tax gimmicks to pay for our schools. We don't need a lottery. We need broad public commitment to do what is right. Amazingly, that's just not there.
It is stunning that Utahns' hatred of raising taxes is stronger than their love of their children. Family friendly, indeed.
Jack Mitchell
Salt Lake City