Utah Lawmakers OK $101 Million in Federal Money (UT)

November 18, 2010

Utah lawmakers have agreed to accept $101 million in federal education stimulus money, but not without griping about it.

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Lawmakers begrudgingly accepted the money during a special legislative session Wednesday, but said in a resolution that Congress had usurped states’ authority.

Federal legislation is providing $10 billion to school districts nationwide to rehire laid-off teachers or to ensure that more teachers won’t be let go.

Some Utah school districts want the money to reduce the number of furlough days teachers are being forced to take.

Some Republican lawmakers are annoyed that Congress has already decided how states must spend the money. They say that’s Utah’s responsibility.