Utah's Republican dominated Legislature passed a bill (29-3) which orders state officials to ignore provisions of the federal law when it conflicts with Utah's.
It looks like Connecticut might have someone to turn to for support with while implementing their lawsuit against the Education Department.
www.newutah.com
Amie Rose DAILY HERALD
Even with a looming threat of losing $76 million, state lawmakers slapped the federal government's hand by voting overwhelmingly to support their own education law over No Child Left Behind.
U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings sent a letter to the state this week, saying the state might lose $76 million in passing the bill.
"At what price is our sovereignty for sale?" asked Sen. Tom Hatch, R-Panguitch. "My sovereignty is not for sale at any price."
He said it all boils down to who controls public education. And although he doesn't think the state will end up losing the money, he said he's willing to gamble it to restore the state's control of its public education system.
http://tinyurl.com/9m4m7
The New York Times today noted that:
The Utah bill leans heavily for its rationale on a provision in the federal education law that Republican congressmen during the first years of the Clinton administration, which forbids federal officials from requiring states to spend their own money to enact the policies outlined in the law.
Is it me, or is there a lesson to be learned here?