O:9:"MagpieRSS":23:{s:6:"parser";i:0;s:12:"current_item";a:0:{}s:5:"items";a:25:{i:0;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-9193181869510480244";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-07-03T16:37:00.003-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-07-03T16:37:50.281-06:00";s:5:"title";s:77:"Cooke: The Governor’s wildfire plan is risky business Utah cannot stand for";s:12:"atom_content";s:5681:"<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> <img src="http://www.cookeforgovernor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/cooke-rampton-for-email.png" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">PRESS STATEMENT&nbsp;</b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">07/03/2012</span></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Contact: Rob Miller<br /><a href="http://801.896.4673/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">801.896.4673</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rob@cookeforgovernor.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">rob@<wbr></wbr>cookeforgovernor.com</a></span></div><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span><br /><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #262626;"><b>CANDIDATES PETER S. COOKE AND VINCE RAMPTON REITERATE MESSAGE TO HERBERT TO PUT SAFETY FIRST, CALL FOR STATEWIDE BAN ON PRIVATE FIREWORKS FOR SECOND TIME</b></span></div><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626;">Salt Lake City (July 3, 2012)— For the second time in four days, Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Peter S. Cooke and his running mate, Lieutenant Governor candidate Vince Rampton, called for Governor Herbert to invoke emergency powers conferred by the Disaster Response and Recovery Act, UCA § 63K-4-101 <i>et seq</i>, to impose a statewide ban on private fireworks during the wildfire crisis. Cooke stated that safety and prevention should be Utah’s chief concern, that leaving the decision to ban fireworks up to the counties is not a sufficient plan of action and that there is no room for politics when lives are at stake.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626;">“My heart goes out to all the Utah families affected by the wildfires that are ravaging our state. I commend the firefighters, state troopers, local police, National Guard and volunteer citizens for their remarkable bravery and courage in the face of such grave danger. Their selfless actions and rapid response has saved hundreds of homes and thousands of lives. They are heroes,” Cooke said.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626;">“Given the tragic loss of life, the millions of dollars in property damage, the 150,000 plus acres of torched wilderness and the threat fireworks pose in this especially dangerous wildfire season, I call again for a ban on private fireworks across the state. No options can be spared in stopping this critical emergency,” Cooke said.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626;">“Last week, Vince and I expressed our concern that Utah is not taking the necessary steps to prevent wildfires. We called on the Governor to ban private fireworks across the state in the interests of our people’s safety. Our concern and call for action, however, went unheeded by the Governor’s Office despite being shared by the vast majority of Utahns. Today, we reiterate our concern and call for action: Herbert needs to put safety first and ban private fireworks statewide,” Cooke said.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626;">“In lieu of a statewide ban, the Governor has left the decision to ban private fireworks up to individual counties. Yet this is not nearly enough to prevent harm to Utah’s families, homes and land— for fires have no boundaries. They can spread as fast as 20 miles per hour, and in the blink of an eye, they can grow from sparks to raging and dangerous flames,” Cooke said.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626;">“In a time where seconds make the difference between life and death, Herbert has waited weeks to act, inexplicably putting the lives and livelihoods of Utahns at risk. The Governor’s plan is risky business Utah cannot stand for,” Cooke said. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626;">“Indeed there is no room for politics and indecision when people’s lives are at stake. We need direction and decisive leadership from the Governor’s Office. As Vince and I stated last week, we need to put safety, people and families first by enacting a statewide ban on private fireworks,” Cooke said.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626;">“A statewide ban on private fireworks is the right thing to do for our state. We cannot put Utahns at risk by acting otherwise.”</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #262626;">About Peter S. Cooke and Vince Rampton: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter S. Cooke is a retired two-star major general in the U.S. Army Reserves, a successful entrepreneur and small business owner, Utah's former director of economic development and an advocate for veterans’ needs. Vince Rampton, the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, is a real estate and general commercial trial attorney at Jones Waldo Holbrook &amp; McDonough, a native Utahn and the son of former three-term Utah Governor Calvin Rampton.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/9193181869510480244/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=9193181869510480244&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/9193181869510480244";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/9193181869510480244";s:4:"link";s:86:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2012/07/cooke-governors-wildfire-plan-is-risky.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:1;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-6445536534622700269";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-03-13T16:42:00.001-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-03-13T16:46:42.249-06:00";s:5:"title";s:28:"Caucus Details (7pm Tonight)";s:12:"atom_content";s:5887:"<p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Dear Cache Democrats and fellow Democrats,</span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-autospace:none" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:blue">*****  THE CAUCUS MEETINGS ARE THIS EVENING AT 7:00 PM  *****</span></b></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:red">Participating in the caucus meetings is a big deal!  Come join us:</span></b></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">     <u>The precincts in <b>Leg 3</b></u> and the Cache County precincts in <b>Leg 1</b> will hold their<br />       caucus meetings in the Team Room of the Smithfield Recreation Center<br />     (315 East  600 South, Smithfield) next to the Sky View High School.  </span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">     Leaders:  Morgan Bowen and Marilyn Mecham</span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">     <u>The precincts in <b>Leg 4</b></u> will hold their caucus meetings in the Little Theater<br />     at Logan High School (162 West  100 South, Logan) </span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">     Leaders:  Vince Wickwar, Christina Roberts, Gilberto Urroz</span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">     <u>The precincts in <b>Leg 5</b></u> will hold their caucus meetings in the Media<br />      Center in the South Cache 8-9 Center (10 South  480 West, Hyrum).  </span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">     Leaders:  Scott &amp; KC Bushman, Kathy &amp; Al Snyder</span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Since the Caucus meetings two years ago, there has been <u>considerable redistricting</u> at all levels of government.  Do not assume you know your election districts.  To find your local precinct go to </span><a href="http://www.cachecounty.org/elections/maps.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">www.cachecounty.org/elections/<wbr>maps.php</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> and open the appropriate PDF precinct map.  Then, go to </span><a href="http://www.cachecounty.org/elections/guide.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">www.cachecounty.org/elections/<wbr>guide.php</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> and open the PDF file to find your Utah Senate and House, County Council, and School Board districts according to your precinct. </span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center;text-autospace:none" align="center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;color:blue">*****  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR CAUCUSES  *****</span></b></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Our gubernatorial candidate is General Peter Cooke.  His website is <a href="http://www.cookeforgovernor.com/" target="_blank">http://www.cookeforgovernor.<wbr>com/</a></span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Our senate candidate is Pete Ashdown.  His website is <a href="http://peteashdown.org/" target="_blank">http://peteashdown.org/</a></span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">He has also prepared a message and (short) video for today.  They can be seen at </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://peteashdown.org/2012/03/13/to-all-caucus-chairs-and-attendees/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0739c8">http://peteashdown.org/2012/<wbr>03/13/to-all-caucus-chairs-<wbr>and-attendees/</span></a>.</span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We have two candidates for Congress.  Our delegates to the State Convention (Saturday, April 21, 2012) will have a significant role in choosing between these two candidates.  They are Ryan Combe and Donna McAleer.</span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Ryan’s website is <a href="http://combeforcongress.com/" target="_blank">http://combeforcongress.com/</a>.  He attended a Big CD party earlier this month.</span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Donna’s website is <a href="http://dmcaleer.com/" target="_blank">http://dmcaleer.com/</a>.  Also, this email has a PDF attachment from Donna introducing herself.</span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">We look forward to seeing you at the Caucus Meetings, Tuesday, March 13, at 7:00 pm,</span></p>  <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">   Vince Wickwar, Chair — </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: windowtext; "><a href="mailto:vincent.wickwar@gmail.com" target="_blank">vincent.wickwar@gmail.com</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">, <a href="tel:435-512-1124" value="+14355121124" target="_blank">435-512-1124</a></span></p>    <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">   Kathy Snyder, Vice Chair — </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: windowtext; "><a href="mailto:kathysnyder@digis.net" target="_blank">kathysnyder@digis.net</a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">, <a href="tel:435-770-1535" value="+14357701535" target="_blank">435-770-1535</a></span></p>    <p class="MsoNormal" align="left"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">   Scott Bushman, Secretary &amp; Leg. 5 Leader — </span><a href="mailto:jsbushman@hotmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#0000f5">jsbushman@hotmail.com</span></a><span style="font-size:12.0pt">, <a href="tel:435-757-3601" value="+14357573601" target="_blank">435-<wbr>757-3601</a>.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/6445536534622700269/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=6445536534622700269&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/6445536534622700269";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/6445536534622700269";s:4:"link";s:74:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2012/03/caucus-details-7pm-tonight.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:2;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-6792688069172208364";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-02-15T16:42:00.003-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-02-15T16:47:30.953-07:00";s:5:"title";s:87:"General Cooke: "Stand Tall for Utah Troops Against Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins";s:12:"atom_content";s:4363:"<p></p><div>Press Statement</div><div><span  ><br /></span></div><div><span  >Contact: Anna Thompson</span></div><div><span  ><a href="tel:801.706.1872" value="+18017061872" target="_blank">801.706.1872</a> | <a href="mailto:athompson@utdem.org" target="_blank">athompson@utdem.org</a></span></div>  <div><span  ><br /></span></div><div><span  >For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 15, 2012</span></div><div>        <p><b>GENERAL COOKE CALLS ON THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE UTAH  GUARD, GOVERNOR HERBERT, TO STAND TALL FOR UTAH TROOPS AGAINST SENATE  MAJORITY LEADER SCOTT JENKINS</b></p></div><div>Salt Lake City - Utah Democratic  candidate for Governor Major General (ret.) Peter S. Cooke called today  on Governor Gary Herbert, commander-in-chief of the Utah National Guard,  to denounce Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins' shocking diatribe  today on the floor of the State Senate against Utah’s soldiers.  Sen. Jenkins (R-Weber) was speaking today in opposition to a bill that would suspend property taxes for active duty soldiers from Utah during their deployment abroad. <br /><br />“I was horrified to see such a diatribe on the floor of our  State Senate today,” said General Cooke.  “Hill Air Force Base is  adjacent to Jenkins’ district!  These men and women are his  constituents.  Senator Jenkins talked about our soldiers like they’re  gaming the system.  It was an attack on our American heroes, who protect  our freedoms, day in and day out, on battlefields around the world. The  fact that they volunteered for this makes them that much more heroic.   The hardships that their families experience during deployment are real,  and more than many of the families are able to survive.  We should be  doing everything we can to support those families during deployment.   It’s time for Governor Herbert and all in state government to stand tall  for our troops and denounce Sen. Jenkins' attack on our soldiers.”</div><div><br /></div>  <div style="text-align:center">###</div><div style="text-align:center"><br /></div><div>Senate Majority Leader Jenkins' (R-Weber) comments: <a href="http://youtu.be/3BlZbsJ5ycc" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/<wbr>3BlZbsJ5ycc</a></div>  <div>        <p>Transcript of Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins’s (R-Weber)  remarks on SJR008 &amp; SB116S01: “I don’t have any questions, but I  rise in opposition to this bill.  You know, we, uh, we honor our  guardsmen, our, uh, our special forces that are in the guard, these  people who serve us as and uh, fight for our freedoms. Uh, we give them  all kinds of breaks, we pay for their clothing, we allow them to shop at  the PX.  And now, Senator Robles, you want me to pay for their taxes on  their primary residence?  And I’m just saying “Enough!” Uh, we’re  loading our tax base on a regular basis here, and now you go ahead and  you want me to  - and this is volunteer.  These people, uh, that are in  the services right now, they go in on a volunteer basis.  They’re not  forced in there.  There’s no draft going right now.  Uh, and when you  talk about them going back a fifth and sixth time, I’m not sure that’s,  uh, the case. I know of several that have been there a second and a  third time.  We give them a retirement at the end of twenty years when  they get out of it.  Uh, they’re paid while they’re there.  Now, there’s  no question there’s a hardship. And I’m admitting that.  But they  understand what that hardship is when they enlist.  I served for seven  years in the National Guard. And I agree, it’s a little different now  then it was back then.  But I knew full well, uh, my responsibility when  I went in.  And when I went in, I didn’t get a tuition enhancement, and  they get that now.  They get their tuition paid for by the state.  I’m  telling you, guardsmens get lots, and lots, and lots of advantages.  And  uh, I’m just saying this is too much.  This is too much to go one more  time.  And now you’re forcing me, your bleeding heart, is saying “OK,  Senator Jenkins, we want you now, to pay for their taxes.”  Well, I’m  saying “enough!”  I don’t want to pay for my own taxes, let alone  theirs!”    </p></div><p></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/6792688069172208364/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=6792688069172208364&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/6792688069172208364";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/6792688069172208364";s:4:"link";s:81:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2012/02/general-cooke-stand-tall-for-utah.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:3;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:69:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-156004810241161090";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-02-13T12:46:00.001-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-02-13T12:48:18.564-07:00";s:5:"title";s:59:"Utah Democrats Commend Breakthrough First Presidency Letter";s:12:"atom_content";s:1967:"For Immediate Release:<br />Monday, February 13, 2012<br /><br /><strong>UTAH DEMOCRATS COMMENDS THE BREAKTHROUGH FIRST PRESIDENCY LETTER, WELCOMES LDS FAITHFUL TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY</strong><br /><br />SALT LAKE CITY - Democratic Party State Chair Jim Dabakis applauds the First Presidency of the LDS Church on their letter affirming the strength and value of various political parties in Utah, and welcomes the LDS faithful to the Utah Democratic Party. <br /><br />Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis said Monday, “This strong statement from the First Presidency, which affirms the value of a multi-party system, is an invitation for Utah voters to take another look at the Utah Democratic Party and our LDS Democrats Caucus. For too long, some politicos have represented to faithful LDS voters that they only have one choice of political parties. The Utah State Democratic Party echoes the call of the First Presidency to combat these beliefs. There are many great political parties here in Utah, and we invite all Utahns to look closely at each of them. We Democrats welcome our LDS brothers and sisters and appreciate their opinions, hard work, and values in our big tent Utah Democratic Party!”<br /><br />“We would like to invite all who are interested to our Democratic caucus meetings on March 13,” Dabakis continued. “We welcome all Utahns. Unlike the Republicans, we require no oath of party loyalty, except to Utah and America. The meetings will be held across the state, and are a wonderful opportunity for Utahns to get involved in their political system. You can find out more information at <a href="http://www.utahdemocrats.org/" target="_blank">www.utahdemocrats.org</a>, and more on the LDS Democrats Caucus at <a href="http://www.ldsdems.org/" target="_blank">www.ldsdems.org</a>.” <br /><br />###<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:174:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/156004810241161090/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=156004810241161090&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:81:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/156004810241161090";s:9:"link_self";s:81:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/156004810241161090";s:4:"link";s:83:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2012/02/utah-democrats-commend-breakthrough.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:4;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-8312992380673530089";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-02-08T17:06:00.001-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-02-08T17:08:35.046-07:00";s:5:"title";s:70:"Major General Peter S. Cooke Calls on Herbert to Work to Preserve HAFB";s:12:"atom_content";s:2653:"Press Statement<br /><br />Contact:<br /><br />Pete Cooke<br /><br />801.652.4700 peter@psc-evg.com<br /><br />Anna Thompson<br /><br />801.706.1872 athompson@utdem.org<br /><br />For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 8, 2012<br /><br /><strong>MAJOR GENERAL PETER S. COOKE CALLS ON GOVERNOR HERBERT TO WORK CONSTRUCTIVELY TO PRESERVE HILL AIR FORCE BASE<br /><br /></strong>SALT LAKE CITY - Ret. Major General Peter S. Cooke today called upon Governor Gary Herbert to work proactively and positively with Utah’s local and federal allies to preserve Hill Air Force Base.<br /><br />“We must work together. It’s a long, complicated and delicate process to defend an air force base before the Base Realignment and Closure Commission,” Major General Cooke said Wednesday. “Words have consequences, and we all need to be careful about our political and partisan rhetoric. Members of our Congressional delegation have worked hard to preserve the base, and I understand that when Governor Herbert made his recent assertion that we need to get off “federal crack”, or that we are at a disadvantage in this process under a Democratic administration, he does not intend those remarks to put Hill Air Force Base in a position of vulnerability, or to disparage our men and women in uniform. However, the fact remains that such political rhetoric does not make us any friends, and now is a time to call on all our allies to circle the wagons and protect Hill Air Force Base.”<br /><br />“From my relationships in the Pentagon,” General Cooke continued, “I’ve heard a lot about Hill Air Force Base being placed on BRAC. It’s a threat that all of us need to pay a great deal of attention to. To be successful, we all need to look carefully at what we’re saying, and to whom, and ask ourselves if such language isn’t doing more harm than good. In that spirit, I’m offering my experience, network, background, and work ethic to do everything that I can to help the Governor fight to keep Hill Air Force Base. I have many contacts at the Pentagon and the Department of Defense, and I understand the way the system works, having seen it from the inside. I firmly believe that if we all work constructively together, we can keep Hill Air Force Base open for many years to come.”<br /><br />When Major General Peter S. Cooke retired in 2010, he was one of the highest-ranking US Army officers stationed in Utah. Pete Cooke will be announcing his candidacy for Governor on February 29th.<br /><br />###<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/8312992380673530089/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=8312992380673530089&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/8312992380673530089";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/8312992380673530089";s:4:"link";s:84:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2012/02/major-general-peter-s-cooke-calls-on.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:5;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-2972207413939429572";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-01-06T14:27:00.006-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-01-06T14:34:09.153-07:00";s:5:"title";s:51:"2012 Legislative Gala: One Party, Standing Together";s:12:"atom_content";s:2246:"<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Jjc-PfAiSg/TwdoxZ3NsDI/AAAAAAAAABo/ucg93vC2p0g/s1600/2012galalogo-300x212.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694635451798630450" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Jjc-PfAiSg/TwdoxZ3NsDI/AAAAAAAAABo/ucg93vC2p0g/s320/2012galalogo-300x212.png" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vL3QStouLTo/Twdnzs_Um9I/AAAAAAAAABc/lP8G3u3a0_w/s1600/2012galalogo-300x212.png"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The Utah Democratic Partycordially invites you to its annual<br />Legislative Gala </span></strong><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><em>Utah Democrats:One Party, Standing Together </em><br /><br />Saturday, January 21, 2012The Grand America Hotel555 South Main, Salt Lake City<br /><br />Keynote Speaker:Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)<br /><br />Featuring a jazz trio, brass quintet, and more, this event will be on a truly grand scale.<br /><br />5:30 p.m. Reception6:30 p.m. Dinner<br /><br />Formal and Business Attire<br />General Ticket: $300<a title="Individual TIcket" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://secure.actblue.com']);" href="https://secure.actblue.com/page/leggala" target="_blank">RSVP Online</a><br /><a title="Sponsorship Materials" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','download','http://utahdemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/USDC-2012-Gala-Sponsorship-Materials.pdf']);" href="http://utahdemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/USDC-2012-Gala-Sponsorship-Materials.pdf" target="_blank">Sponsorship Information Available Here</a><a title="Purchase Sponsorship" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://secure.actblue.com']);" href="https://secure.actblue.com/page/leggalasponsors" target="_blank">RSVP Online</a><br />Contact Matt Lyon (matt@utdem.org) or (801) 328-1212 for for additional information.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/2972207413939429572/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=2972207413939429572&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/2972207413939429572";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/2972207413939429572";s:4:"link";s:79:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012-legislative-gala-one-party.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:6;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-8878653601267713968";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-01-06T14:13:00.004-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-01-06T14:17:39.595-07:00";s:5:"title";s:41:"Utah GOP leaders comfortable with failure";s:12:"atom_content";s:1002:"Chairman Jim Dabakis has a <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/53201368-82/utah-state-failure-republican.html.csp">must read Op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune </a>on the failure of the Republican approach to education funding in Utah. A snippet:<br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Two of the last three years, Republicans have not even funded growth. Their solution? Just stack more children in neighborhood schools with class sizes growing, books wanting and teachers left to fend for themselves. This year, with fanfare, the Republican legislative leaders announced their “commitment to education” as priority number one. Yet at the first opportunity, they voted unanimously not to include in the base budget growth — while the Democrats voted unanimously the other way.<br /></blockquote><br />Read the entire article, and share your thoughts in the comments.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/8878653601267713968/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=8878653601267713968&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/8878653601267713968";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/8878653601267713968";s:4:"link";s:81:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2012/01/utah-gop-leaders-comfortable-with.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:7;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-1952556306355301603";s:9:"published";s:29:"2012-01-06T14:00:00.001-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2012-01-06T14:01:40.694-07:00";s:5:"title";s:57:"Cache County Democrats Demand GOP Action on Air Pollution";s:12:"atom_content";s:1490:"Cache County – The Cache County Democratic Party is teaming up with Democrats on the Logan City Council and Logan City School Board, demanding that the all-Republican Cache County Council start fixing the plague of horrible air pollution. “The Worst Air In The Nation.” That’s the new ranking of the air quality in Logan City. The air is currently so thick with smog that over 60% of local residents are now susceptible to the effects, including children and seniors.<br /><br />“To think that our beautiful county is being bogged down in this much pollution is horrible,” says Cache County Democratic Chair Vincent Wickwar. “Our children aren’t even being let outside for recess at school. The Republicans are arguing for their special interests and pushing to keep the status-quo. Our special interests are the children, the students and the citizens of Cache County.”<br /><br />Democrats on the Logan City Council are demanding that the all-Republican Cache County Council take immediate action. “We have to do something now,” says Logan City Council Chairman Herm Olsen (D).<br /><br />“There are any number of smart, efficient programs which they can put in place,” continued Wickwar. “At the very least, we can begin using the emissions-testing program that has already been implemented in Salt Lake and Davis Counties.”<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/1952556306355301603/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=1952556306355301603&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/1952556306355301603";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/1952556306355301603";s:4:"link";s:81:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2012/01/cache-county-democrats-demand-gop.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:8;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-7323250997050654666";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-06-16T14:03:00.002-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-06-16T14:08:16.598-06:00";s:5:"title";s:22:"Follow Cache Democrats";s:12:"atom_content";s:626:"To stay up to date on the latest information and events, please follow us on<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/cachedemocrats">Twitter </a><br /><br />and<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Cache-Democrats/128817350468332?ref=ts">Facebook</a><br /><br />And don't forget, Morgan Bowen is looking for <a href="http://www.actblue.com/page/votebowen">100 new donors on ActBlue by the end of the week</a>.  Please give if you can, and share this with your social networks.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/7323250997050654666/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=7323250997050654666&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/7323250997050654666";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/7323250997050654666";s:4:"link";s:70:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2010/06/follow-cache-democrats.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:9;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-8044224368486774640";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-06-16T13:54:00.002-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-06-16T14:03:22.836-06:00";s:5:"title";s:62:"Read Peter Corroon's Plan for Jobs and Economic Growth in Utah";s:12:"atom_content";s:1116:"Salt Lake County Mayor and Gubernatorial candidate Peter Corroon has released his plan for Jobs and Economic Growth in Utah.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.votecorroon.com/images/stories/media/corroonjobsplan.pdf">Download it as a PDF.</a><br /><br />For more information, visit the <a href="http://www.votecorroon.com/home">Corroon for Governor</a> website.  And don't forget to join the rest of <a href="http://corrooncountry.com/group/cachevalleyforcorroon">Cache Valley on CorroonCountry.com</a> and and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/group.php?gid=260992057607&amp;ref=ts">Aggies for Corroon on Facebook</a>.<br />Also, remember the Corroon phone banks are open for volunteers every Tues and Thurs nights at our office (232 S. Main).<br /><br />This is an exciting campaign, and an excellent opportunity for Utah Democrats to reach out to voters disenfranchised with the extremist takeover of the GOP.<br /><br /><a href="http://corrooncountry.com/">Be a part of it!</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/8044224368486774640/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=8044224368486774640&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/8044224368486774640";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/8044224368486774640";s:4:"link";s:85:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2010/06/read-peter-corroons-plan-for-jobs-and.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:10;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-4790648238782662635";s:9:"published";s:29:"2010-02-17T10:28:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2010-02-17T12:34:31.940-07:00";s:5:"title";s:66:"Press Release: Holding GOP Congressmen Accountable on Recovery Act";s:12:"atom_content";s:5231:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6Qv__j0Zno/S3xEUO72CZI/AAAAAAAAABA/eSBqMqXFwyg/s1600-h/UTDEMSCircleLogoBordered.6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 158px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6Qv__j0Zno/S3xEUO72CZI/AAAAAAAAABA/eSBqMqXFwyg/s320/UTDEMSCircleLogoBordered.6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439297564353890706" border="0" /></a><br />Contact: Wayne Holland<br />Utah State Democratic Party<br />Phone 801/328-1212×201<br />455 S 300 E Ste 301<br />Salt Lake City, UT 84111<br />www.utdemocrats.org<br />mail@utdemocrats.org<br /><br />Press Release<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Utahns will hold Congressional Republicans accountable for Obstruction</span><br /></div><br />Salt Lake City, UT – Democratic State Party Chair Wayne Holland issued the following statement regarding the first anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009:<br /><br />“Today we celebrate the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). After just one year, the Recovery Act has saved and created an estimated 18,000 jobs in Utah; provided $500 million in tax cuts to 95% of Utah families; provided $74 million in one-time relief payments to Utah seniors, veterans and other high-need residents; provided $384 million to 125 transportation projects in Utah; given $413 million in 1,691 small business loans; provided more than 110,000 Utahns with expanded unemployment benefits; funded 1,900 education positions with $350 million in State Fiscal Stabilization Funds; provided $206 million to help provide Medicaid in Utah; $51 million for food stamps and other nutrition programs; and helped to fund dozens of other  critical projects that would have been beyond our means during the recent fiscal crisis. Without a doubt, we are back on track to building a strong and vibrant economy.<br /><br />Because of this crucial action our schools are far better off than they would have been. Just two of the top recipients in Utah are the Granite and Jordan School Districts that received more than $100 million to keep our schools afloat. The University of Utah has received $44 million, $13.8 million to BYU; $13.7 million to Utah State University; and $8.2 million to Utah Valley University. And this is just some of the good news. All in all, we have been able to fund over 1,800 projects in Utah with the help of the Recovery Act. Other key projects and benefits of the Recovery act include tax credits for first-time home-buyers, $108 million to remove uranium tailings near the Colorado River in Moab, and $13.5 million to reconstruct the Dinosaur National Monument Visitor Center in Vernal, and $5 million for construction of a Bureau of Reclamation pipeline in Daggett County.<br /><br />ARRA has been a resounding success for Utah and for all Americans, and there’s still more to come. In fact, there are still almost 200 projects that have yet to begin, and 363 that are still less than 50% complete. The state has spent nearly 60% or $1.1 billion of its $1.9 billion total funds designated for Utah. So the Recovery Act will continue to revitalize our economy and put Utahns back on their feet.<br /><br />But while Democrats are working hard to rebuild the nation’s economy, unfortunately Utah’s Republicans like Sen. Bob Bennet and Rep. Jason Chaffetz squandered their chance to work together to repair the economy — and what’s worse is that they’re attempting to take credit for something they voted against. All four of Utah’s Republicans in Washington vote against the Recovery Act but still sent letters requesting federal money for projects proving that they care more about scoring political points than putting Utahns back to work.<br /><br />This November we expect Utah voters to send a clear message that they will hold our Congressional Republicans accountable for their obstruction in helping Utahns keep or get jobs, pay for their homes, improve their communities, and provide for their families.”<br /><br />Here is what others are saying:<br /><br />Jeff Thredgold, economist for Utah-based Zions Bank: “It’s helped Utah.  Has it saved us from going into a recession? No.  Has it saved us a few jobs?  Clearly it has, and that’s been the case around the country.”<br /><br />William Sederburg, Utah Higher Education Commissioner: “Without question the stimulus has helped.  While the state’s colleges and universities still eliminated 940 positions, Utah hung on to 955 that would have been lost.”<br /><br />John Njord, Director, Utah Department of Transportation, whose contractors and subcontractors said their payrolls would have been slashed if not for the money: “What they’re telling me, is that we would have laid off a lot more if those projects had not come through.”<br /><br />Utah Republican Party Chairman Dave Hansen: “Has it helped on some jobs?  Yeah, it has helped.”<br /><br /># # #<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/4790648238782662635/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=4790648238782662635&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/4790648238782662635";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/4790648238782662635";s:4:"link";s:85:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2010/02/press-release-holding-gop-congressmen.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:11;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-4072486898048631415";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-05-20T10:31:00.002-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-05-20T10:34:12.091-06:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 5/20/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:5525:"<a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/legislative-updates.htm">LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE</a><b><a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/legislative-updates.htm"></a><br /><br />Wednesday, May  20, 2009<br /><br /></b> Interim meetings begin  today. Legislators will review bills they passed last session, and decide which  issues to focus on in preparation for action next January.  Today committees  meet from 8:30 to 10:30 and from 10:45 to 12:30.  A Special Session to correct  glitches from last session will be at 2:00 PM.<br /><br /><br /><b>In 8:30 - 10:30  COMMITTEES<br /></b><br />EDUCATION will consider recommendations from 2 audits:  elementary class size and criminal background check procedures for school  employees. The Utah Education Network will explain how Internet access is  restricted in public schools. <br /><br />The ETHICS interim committee has an  important first meeting.  They’ll hear the history of current House and Senate  Ethics Committees and consider a process and timeline for the new committee.   How Ethics Committees and Commissions work in other states and the Legislature’s  current Code of Official Conduct will be discussed, too.<br /><br />PUBLIC  UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY will be updated on BLM pull-backs of gas well drilling  leases in Nine Mile Canyon.  They’ll discuss the status of current uranium  mining and proposed new mines plus Federal cap and trade proposals to limit  carbon dioxide emissions.<br /><br /><br /><b> In 10:45 – 12:30  COMMITTEES<br /></b><br />The HEALTH SYSTEM REFORM TASK FORCE will review: 2008  legislation, a recent Congressional hearing on health reform, laws scheduled to  be passed in 2009, proposed working groups and additional study topics.  The  Office of Consumer Health Services and the Insurance Department will report on  implementation of recently passed health reform legislation.<br /><br />NATURAL  RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE &amp; ENVIRONMENT will hear how Federal stimulus money is  being used from the State Planning Coordinator, and from the departments of  Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agriculture and Food.  Recommended  administrative rules for carbon capture and sequestration will be followed by  Sunset reviews of the Hazardous Substances Mitigation Act, the Waste Tire  Recycling Act and the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Account  appropriation. <br /><br />TRANSPORTATION will hear an overview of where  transportation funding comes from and how it’s used, plus a report on the use of  Federal stimulus funds by the Department of Transportation and UTA.  An update  on projects to be funded by $2.207 billion in bonds authorized last session will  be followed by a UTA paratransit services report.<br /><br /><br /> *****************************************************************<br /><b><br />MORE  8:30 - 10:30 COMMITTEES<br /><br /></b>BUSINESS AND LABOR After reviewing items to  be studied in interim, the committee will review a Special Session draft bill:  "Conditions for Requesting and Disclosing Information Under Employment Selection  Procedures Act."  Also on the agenda are a discussion of automobile franchise  issues, Sunset Review of Insurance Department comparison tables, and  implementation of SB 211 “Building Code Amendments.” (210 Senate Building) <br />GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS will consider two special  Session bills:  SB 1002 – Legal Notice Amendments and HB 1001 – Subdivision  Approval Amendments. An overview of the committee’s subject areas and Open and  Public Meeting training will be followed by a look at the master plan for state  building projects and State Capitol Complex projects. Then they’ll discuss what  the committee should study over the interim. (30 House Building)<br /><br />In  HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES the directors of the Health, Human Services, and  Insurance departments will suggest timely topics for interim study.  A briefing  on Utah’s response to H1N1 Swine flu and pandemic preparedness will be followed  by consideration of draft legislation that would develop age-appropriate  materials and services to prevent and address family and dating violence. (250  State Capitol)<br /><br /><b><br />MORE 10:45 – 12:30 COMMITTEES<br /></b><br />In  JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT &amp; CRIMINAL JUSTICE committee members will list  their top 5 study item preferences and hear updates from the departments of  Corrections and Public Safety and from the Administrative Office of the Courts.   Court fees and the statute of limitations on bad checks will be discussed. (30  House Building)<br /><br />REVENUE &amp; TAXATION will create working groups on  local option transportation sales taxes, the property tax, and tax penalties and  discuss future action in those areas.  They’ll discuss state economic trends and  revenue collection and get an update on recent Federal tax law changes and their  impact on state revenues. (445 State Capitol)<br /><br />WORKFORCE SERVICES &amp;  COMMUNITY &amp; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT will hear recommendations for interim study  from the Departments of Community and Culture and Workforce Services and from  the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.  A Sunset review of the Recycling  Market Development Zone Act is also on the agenda, plus Committee member  recommendations for interim study. (450 State Capitol)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/4072486898048631415/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=4072486898048631415&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/4072486898048631415";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/4072486898048631415";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/05/following-utah-legislature-52009.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:12;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:69:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-400215038462632265";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-04-24T21:11:00.003-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-04-24T21:19:18.041-06:00";s:5:"title";s:29:"2009 Jefferson Jackson Dinner";s:12:"atom_content";s:1272:"Video from last Friday's Jefferson Jackson Dinner with Sen. Pat Jones (introduction by Morgan Bowen):<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4bvDabf7wY">Intro</a>:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_4bvDabf7wY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_4bvDabf7wY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />And <br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol65whksZiE&feature=channel_page">Sen. Pat Jones (Part I)</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckXle1a1rA0&feature=channel_page">Sen. Pat Jones (Part II)</a><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRaVkm5qxuI&feature=channel_page">Sen. Pat Jones (Part III)</a><br /><br />(Thanks to Jason of <a href="http://kvnuforthepeople.com/">KVNU's For the Peopl</a><a href="http://utdems.blogspot.com/2009/04/orton-story-craig-axford-deputy.html">e</a> for the links.)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:174:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/400215038462632265/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=400215038462632265&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:81:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/400215038462632265";s:9:"link_self";s:81:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/400215038462632265";s:4:"link";s:77:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/04/2009-jefferson-jackson-dinner.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:13;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-7749015143344719998";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-04-04T09:17:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-04-04T09:17:00.876-06:00";s:5:"title";s:69:"Hey Utah Democrats, your county convention is just around the corner!";s:12:"atom_content";s:4350:"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6Qv__j0Zno/SdZAX7rUv0I/AAAAAAAAAA4/_8dea1B1iWU/s1600-h/hpim08055.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Q6Qv__j0Zno/SdZAX7rUv0I/AAAAAAAAAA4/_8dea1B1iWU/s320/hpim08055.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320510789685395266" /></a><br />From <a href="http://utahamicus.com/2009/04/02/hey-utah-democrats-your-county-convention-is-just-arround-the-corner/">Utah Amicus</a> and the <a href="http://utdems.blogspot.com/2009/04/hey-utah-democrats-your-county.html">Utah Democrats Blog</a>.<br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"  style=" line-height: 22px; font-size:14px;"><strong>Sanpete County</strong> – Tuesday, April 14 @ 7:00 pm. Mayor Corroon keynote speaker<br />Location:Sanpete County Courthouse 160 North Main, Manti, UT 84642<br /><br /><strong>Cache County Jefferson/Jackson Dinner</strong> – Friday, April 17 @ 6:00 pm. Senator Pat Jones keynote speaker<br />Location:Hamilton's Loft 155 Church Ave., Logan, UT 84321<br /><br /><strong>Salt Lake County Politisauce Dinner</strong> – Friday, April 17 @ 6:00 pm<br />Location:Teamsters Union Hall 2641 S 3270 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84119<br /><br /><strong>Salt Lake County Convention</strong> – Saturday, April 18 @ 9:00 am<br />Location:Cottonwood High School 5715 S 1300 E, Murray, UT 84121<br /><br /><strong>Washington County Convention</strong> – Saturday, April 18 @ 10:00 am<br />Location: Hilton Garden Inn 1731 Convention Center Dr., St. George, UT 84790<br /><br /><strong>Davis County Convention</strong> – Saturday, April 18 @ 11:00 am<br />Location:Centerville Jr. High 625 S Main, Centerville, UT 84014<br /><br /><strong>Carbon County Convention</strong> – Tuesday, April 21 @ 6:00 pm - Chairman Holland keynote speaker<br />Location:TBA TBA, TBA, UT 84501<br /><br /><strong>Grand County Convention</strong> – Wednesday, April 22 @ 6:00 pm<br />Location: Grand Center in the Convention Room, 182 N. 500 W. Moab, UT 84532<br /><br /><strong>Emery County Convention</strong> - Thursday, April 23, 2009 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm<br />Location:Huntington Senior Center 176 W 100 N, Huntington, UT 84528<br /><br /><strong>Wasatch County Convention</strong> – Friday, April 24 @ 7:00 pm<br />Location:Huntington Senior Center 176 W 100 N, Huntington, UT 84528<br /><br /><strong>Emery County Convention</strong> - Thursday, April 23, 2009 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm<br />Location:Huntington Senior Center 176 W 100 N, Huntington, UT 84528<br /><br /><strong>Weber County Sawbucks Dinner</strong> – Friday, April 24 @ 7:00 pm – Senator Pat Jones keynote speaker<br />Location: The Timbermine Restaurant<br /><br /><strong>Cache County Convention</strong> – Saturday, April 25 @ 9:00 am<br />Location: Logan High School - Little Theater<br /><br /><strong>Weber County Convention</strong> – Saturday, April 25 @ 9:00am (tentative) – Chairman Wayne Holland keynote speaker<br />Location: Union Station 2501 Wall Ave, Ogden, UT 84401<br /><br /><strong>Wayne County Convention</strong> – Saturday, April 25 @ 1:00 pm - Representative David Litvack keynote – Craig Axford guest speaker<br />Location: Wayne Performing Arts Center 79 North 100 West, Bicknell, UT 84715<br /><br /><strong>Utah County Convention</strong> – Saturday, May 2 @ 9:00 am<br />Tooele County Convention – Saturday, May 2 @ 5:00 pm<br />Location:Tooele County Bldg. auditorium 47 S. Main Street, Tooele, UT 84074<br /><br /><strong>Morgan County Convention</strong> - May 5, 2009 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm<br />Location:Morgan Middle School 115 E Young Street, Morgan, UT 84050<br /><br /><strong>Summit County Convention</strong> – Saturday, May 16 @ 4:00 pm<br />Location: Legacy Lodge, Park City, Utah<br /><br />This is the current list of County Conventions that have been scheduled to date. To view updates, or to view other events click<em><strong></strong></em><a href="http://www.utdemocrats.org/events/" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; "><em><strong>here!</strong></em></a></span><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/7749015143344719998/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=7749015143344719998&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/7749015143344719998";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/7749015143344719998";s:4:"link";s:78:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/04/hey-utah-democrats-your-county.html";s:11:"author_name";s:13:"Utah Democrat";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/01576081745034571192";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:14;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-5265202850386775526";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-03-12T09:31:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-03-12T09:33:03.315-06:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 3/12/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:6164:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/legislative-updates.htm" eudora="autourl"><br /></a><br />Thursday,  March 12, 2009<br /></b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY</span><br /><br />Today is the very last day of the 2009 general session of the  legislature.  It ends at midnight.  Floor debate began at 8 AM and will go until  midnight if necessary.  Lunch will be from 12 to 2 and the dinner break is from  6 to 7 this evening.  The House has set a time certain at 9 am for HCR 10, a  Concurrent Resolution Honoring the Life and Contributions of Larry H.  Miller.<br /><br />IN THE HOUSE<br /><br />Nine bills are on the Concurrence calendar  awaiting HOUSE approval of changes made in the Senate yesterday.  <br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>One interesting one is Substitute HB 444.  The Senate  added $500,000 for the Department of Health’s tobacco cessation program, plus  money for children’s museums at the Leonardo and Thanksgiving Point, and  assistance for the Shakespeare Festival, all to be funded by tobacco settlement  money.<br /><br />Still circled on the House’s Senate bill calendar are SB 28,  Prohibited Activities of Gang Offenders: Substitute SB 199, Equal Recognition of  School Parent Groups such as the PTA: and SB 64, which would give the  legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee a new power: checking to see  whether state agencies were spending appropriations as the legislature  intended. <br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>However HJR 23, a Joint Rules Resolution,  is on the Board as well. It would allow Executive Appropriations to consider  citizen and legislator complaints about whether appropriations were being spent  as the legislature intended.<br /><br />IN THE SENATE<br /><br />The Second Reading  list is long.  Under Substitute HB 290, a person who texted or emailed on a  handheld device while driving a moving vehicle would be guilty of careless  driving, a class C misdemeanor.<br /><br />Also on the Board are HB 392, which  would authorize the PSC to allow a subsidized rate for natural gas vehicle fuel,  and Second substitute HB 272, Utah Scenic Byway Designation Amendments.  SB 61,  favoring Home School and Private School Students’ Participation in  Extracurricular Activities, SB 164, allowing In Person Voter Registration  outside the clerk’s office, and Second Substitute HB 141, Billboard Amendments,  still sit circled on the Third Reading calendar.<br /><br />Throughout this long  last day, bills will come and go on the boards, between House and Senate, and in  and out of the Rules Committees, in the rush to get everyone’s priority bill  passed.<br /> <b><br /><br />Thursday, March 12, 2009<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED  YESTERDAY</span><br /><br /></b>HB2, the huge Minimum School Program budget bill, traveled  back and forth between the House and Senate yesterday and ended up on the House  Concurrence Calendar today for consideration of the Senate’s amendments.  A  provision that would have gradually shifted funding of charter schools from the  state to local school districts was removed.  That means the state would  continue to pay 75 percent of charter school costs.  <br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>$400,000 for teacher performance pay was restored,  and teachers at the state School for the Deaf and Blind will get a raise.  The  WPU, Weighted Pupil Unit, will not increase.  It’s set at $2,577 per pupil and  13,000 new students are expected next year.  The education budget overall has  been cut by 6 percent.<br /><br />The Senate also made a small but interesting  change in HB 412, Energy Policy Amendments, yesterday.  They had a long  discussion of whether HB 412 meant taxpayers would have to pay twice to study  the economic impacts of “legislation, including a bill or resolution, or an  executive action, including an executive order” that addresses climate change.  <br /><x-tab>        </x-tab> Yesterday’s amendment simply took out the  “legislative action, including a bill or resolution” part, since legislative  fiscal analysts already analyze the economic impact of proposed legislation. The  economic effect on Utah industry business and consumers would still need to be  determined before climate change action by the executive branch could be  adopted.<br /><br />SB 48, Teacher Licensing by Competency, sponsored by Senator  Buttars, did not get a warm reception in the House. The bill failed very  definitely, 17-49.  It would have allowed individuals to apply for a  competency-based teaching license to teach in middle school or high school if  they held a bachelor’s degree, and had demonstrated a high level of competency  in an academic subject.   <br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>Rep Menlove thought the  bill was unnecessary. Programs to increase teacher competency already exist.   Former AP English teacher Moss, said good teaching is 20 percent inspiration and  80 percent preparation.  Teachers need skills such as how to prepare sequential  lessons, time management and knowledge of adolescent psychology. <br /><br />The  immigration bill<b> HB 64</b> has now passed both House and Senate but with some  changes.  It sets up a multi-agency strike force to combat violent and other  major <b>felony</b> crimes associated with illegal immigration and human  trafficking.  Legislators found an interesting source for the $891,000 that will  be given to the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice instead of the   Attorney General’s office for administering the program.  Money from the  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, aka the federal stimulus package, will  be used.<br /><br />Yesterday the Senate unanimously passed HB 120 - Snake Valley  Aquifer Research Team and Advisory Council.  The bill is designed to be sure  groundwater now shared by Utah and Nevada is used on a sound scientific basis.   Imagine!  What a concept!  HB 120 now goes to the Governor for his signature<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/5265202850386775526/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=5265202850386775526&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/5265202850386775526";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/5265202850386775526";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/03/following-utah-legislature-31209.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:15;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-6395201361741242070";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-03-11T10:05:00.003-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-03-11T10:10:21.634-06:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 3/11/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:6409:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<br /></b><b><br />Wednesday,  March 11, 2009<br /><br /><br /></b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY</span><b><br /></b><br />Today the House and  Senate will start off with 76 bills scheduled for floor debate.  And there are  many more waiting in House and Senate Rules Committees if they run short.   Debate will be from 8AM to noon and from 2 PM to “as needed.”  At 7:30AM the  Senate Education Confirmation Committee meets to confirm Brent L. Brown as a  member of the Board of Regents.  At 5 PM Executive Appropriations is scheduled  to meet in Room 30 House Building.<br /><br />IN THE HOUSE<br /><br />On the  CONCURRENCE calendar, three House bills amended by the Senate are waiting for  House approval.  The bills are HB 122, which reduces public access to some  government records; HB 129, Alcoholic Beverage Amendments Related to Minors who  submit a false proof of age; and Third Substitute HB 346, Campaign and Financial  Reporting Requirements for candidates who receive campaign contributions in cash  or in kind.<br /><br />ON THE HOUSE SENATE BILL CALENDAR:<br />        SB 28 says  individuals convicted of a gang-related crime can not possess a dangerous weapon  for five years.  Substitute SB 184 increases several court filing fees for civil  (not criminal) cases to bring in $11.3 million beginning in fiscal year 2010.   The revenue will help prevent severe gaps in court services.  Substitute SB 199  addresses the issue of equal recognition of all school parent groups by the  schools their children attend.<br /><br />ON THE SENATE SECOND READING  CALENDAR<br />        HB 430 offers a state economic development tax credit and  local property tax rebates to businesses that invest in alternative energy  projects. Its purpose is to increase renewable energy generation and create high  paying jobs. The original bill stated that another purpose is to assure the  health and welfare of Utah citizens, but the House amended that  out.<br />        Substitute HB 439 would allow Salt Lake and Davis County to  raise the Botanical, Cultural, Recreational, and Zoological facilities sales tax  to pay for transit improvements, including a line between Salt Lake and Davis  counties and a North Temple viaduct do-over.<br /><br />IN THE SENATE ON THIRD  READING<br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>One of the bills awaiting one more vote in  the Senate is HB 302.  It changes the amount of money that will go from the  Tobacco Settlement Account to programs in the Departments of Health and Human  Services. CHIP will get more for children’s health care.  Media messages that  discourage smoking will get less, but Drug Courts that divert drug offenders  from incarceration will get more.  The Tobacco Settlement money came from a  lawsuit against tobacco companies brought by several states including Utah to  compensate for Medicaid costs caused by smoking.<br /><br /><b><br />Wednesday,  March 11, 2009<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY</span><br /></b><br /><br />The SENATE  passed several House bills from Second to Third Reading yesterday without much  discussion.  They need one more vote before going to the  Governor:<br /><br />Second Substitute HB 120 creates a Snake Valley Aquifer  Research Team and Advisory Council to protect Utah against a Nevada water grab.   HB 345 would prohibit elected state officials from acting as lobbyists for one  year after leaving office. Substitute HB 132 allows rape victims to get  emergency contraceptives and information from more hospitals.  HB 198 would  permit marriage license applicants to pay an extra ten dollars to fund domestic  violence shelters.<br /><br />HB 412 – Energy Policy Amendments – passed from  Second to Third, too, but only after considerable debate.  HB 412 amends State  energy policy to determine the economic impacts of a proposed legislative or  executive action involving climate change.  It also says state policy should  advocate for fair and consistent Federal climate change regulation.  Senator  Jones asked who would pay to study the economic effect of a bill, resolution or  action by the governor before the action was even proposed.<br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>A discussion of that point including Senator McCoy  pointed out that the legislature’s fiscal analyst examines those costs when a  bill is written, but not beforehand.  And who would look at the cost of a  proposed action by the Governor? An extra economic impact study would be a waste  of taxpayer money, and picks on just one area, climate change, said Senator  Jones, calling the bill ridiculous. Senate sponsor Jenkins tried to explain that  the bill is more about what energy policy should be than about energy  legislation and called for a vote.  HB 412 passed to Third Reading 17-9. Senator  Valentine joined the Democrats in opposition.<br /><br />After a long debate, the  HOUSE passed Substitute SJR 16, a non-binding resolution supporting nuclear  power.  It “encourages new nuclear power development in Utah due to its  beneficial impact on the economy, fuel diversification and the environment, and  its impressive operational safety and security record.”  The vote was 56 to  17.<br />        Rep Biskupski said new nuclear plants will not be available for  decades and would not be cost effective in Utah where power rates are lower;  Rocky Mountain Power is not planning to build one.<br />        Rep Noel  thought prices would be more competitive if plant construction costs were not  factored in.  He said Utah needs baseload 24-hr power from coal or nuclear  because wind and solar are available only intermittently.<br />        Rep  Allen’s proposed amendment would have considered the need for and adequacy of  water resources. Rep Riesen’s amendment said nuclear development should be  pursued only after a safe disposal site for the waste has been developed.  After  both amendments failed, Rep Daw pointed out that 20 percent of U.S. electric  power is already nuclear.  He said those plants seem to have a handle on their  by-products.  Rep Watkins predicted that the current price of electricity will  go up, making cost a less important consideration.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/6395201361741242070/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=6395201361741242070&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/6395201361741242070";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/6395201361741242070";s:4:"link";s:83:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/03/following-utah-legislature-31009_11.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:16;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-7304442647771370654";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-03-10T09:29:00.000-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-03-10T09:31:04.213-06:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 3/10/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:6568:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/legislative-updates.htm" eudora="autourl"><br /></a><br />Tuesday,  March 10, 2009<br /></b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY</span><br /><br />Three days to go on Capitol Hill.  There will be three bouts of floor  debate, from 8 AM to noon, from 2 to 4 PM and from 5 PM to as needed.  Looking  at the 83 bills on the calendar, it appears that the House will concentrate on  Senate bills and the Senate will debate House bills.  But under suspension of  the rules, legislators move from list to list quite easily<br /><br />IN THE  HOUSE<br />The House will likely start out with the Concurrence calendar.  That’s  where bills that were amended in the Senate have been returned to the House for  their action.  They can agree, or concur, with the amendments or refuse to  concur and ask the Senate to recede from those amendments.  Sometimes it takes a  special conference committee from both houses to settle the matter.  On that  calendar are Second Substitute House Bill 126, which requires voter ID at the  polls, and HB 122, which makes public access to some government records more  difficult.<br /><br />The House’s Senate bill list starts with SB 2, the New Fiscal  Year Appropriations Act. This is a very large bill that appropriates $1.8  billion from the General Fund, $127 million from the Uniform School Fund, $334  million from the Education Fund, and $6.1 billion from “various sources.”  All  the details of where the money will be spent are in SB 2.  Budget bills will be  going back and forth for amendments today and tomorrow.<br /><br />OTHER BILLS IN  THE HOUSE<br /><br /> SB 134, Transportation Funding Amendments says transportation  money from Congress must be spent on projects included in the statewide  transportation improvement program. Substitute SJR 16, a joint resolution  supporting nuclear power; SCR 2, a concurrent resolution calling for civility in  the legislature and Substitute SCR 4, a resolution supporting obesity awareness  are also on the board.<br /><br />IN THE SENATE<br />The Senate will likely start out  with 11 bills on the Consent Calendar.  These are bills that are so  non-controversial that they will be presented, but not debated, on the floor,  then quickly agreed to unless one legislator wants to vote no.<br /><br />The  Senate’s House bill list includes some of the ethics bills that have passed the  House.  HB 345 prohibits elected state officials from acting as lobbyists for  one year after leaving office. HB 346 requires candidates to report campaign  contributions within 5 days after they’re received.  HB 410 reduces legislators’  daily pay by 10 percent to $117 a day through 2010, and HJR 14 sets up an ethics  training course for legislators.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT  HAPPENED YESTERDAY</span><br /><br />Third Substitute SB 79 passed the Senate.  It sets a  standard of proof a higher standard of proof, clear and convincing evidence in  malpractice suits for a narrow class of health care providers, those who are on  call to staff hospital ERs.  Sponsors said the medical community had agreed not  to try to expand it to other ER providers.  A section of the original bill that  set rules for expert medical witnesses was dropped.  The new law sunsets after  four years if not renewed. <br /><br />The HOUSE voted on health care, too.  They  passed HB 171, removing the 5-year ban on Medicaid for 800 legal immigrant  children by a vote of 50 to 23. Sponsor Rep Holdaway quoted a $390,000 fiscal  note but he expects reduced use of the ER to offset that.<br /><br />          But  the HOUSE failed 25-47 to approve HB 372, requiring prison inmates to use their  private health insurance instead of prison health services while incarcerated.  Proponents wanted to save the state money, but opponents didn’t want to increase  the burden on small employers who pay insurance premiums. Rep Dunnigan pointed  out that insurance contracts already say an incarcerated person is not  covered.<br /><br />The Senate passed two voter ID bills.  Second Substitute HB  126, sponsored by Rep Daw, will require ID when voting.  Senator McCoy added two  provisions to help voters who arrive at the polls without it:  signs in polling  places reminding voters in line that ID is now required, so voters could go home  and get it, and reminders when casting their provisional ballots that they must  show ID at the clerk’s office within 5 business days.  The vote was 26-3. McCoy,  Robles and Romero voted no.<br /><br />          Late yesterday afternoon Substitute  SB 69, which calls for proof of citizenship, not just ID, when registering or  voting, passed both Second and Third Reading under suspension of the rules.   Sponsor Sen Madsen added an amendment to allow people with disabilities to  confirm their citizenship with a letter from the Social Security  Administration--which Sen Robles said she appreciated. The vote was 22-7. SB 69  now heads to the House.<br /><br />The HOUSE tried yet again to strike a balance  between private property and access to Utah streams, but 3<sup>rd</sup>  substitute HB 87 failed 34-41.  Rep. Fowlke cautioned that hundreds of letters –  not form letters – protesting the bill signal litigation to come.  She said the  bill was based on the false premise that all water is private; the Utah  Constitution says water is public.  Rep Biskupski said that randomly designating  some rivers as public without criteria was begging for lawsuits and Rep King  suggested working with existing trespass laws first.<br /><br />But the HOUSE  passed HB 379, 52 to 22.  Anyone asking the Departments of Environmental  Quality, Natural Resources or Transportation to delay an environmental action  through a preliminary injunction or administrative stay would have to post a  bond.  And if unsuccessful they would have to pay damages to defendants harmed  by the delay. Rep Biskupski reported that Legislative Research found  constitutional problems of limiting the right to petition for redress of  grievances and denying access to the courts. She proposed to allow the court to  ask for a bond or damages but not to require it.  That amendment failed.  Rep  McIff, a former judge, said a court rule 65A already allows what HB 379  proposes.  HB 379 now goes to the Senate.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/7304442647771370654/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=7304442647771370654&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/7304442647771370654";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/7304442647771370654";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/03/following-utah-legislature-31009.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:17;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-9025237052581178520";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-03-09T10:25:00.002-06:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-03-10T09:31:19.267-06:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 3/09/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:6813:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<br /><br />Monday,  March 9, 2009<br /></b><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY   </span><br /><br />This week it’s floor time all the time on Capitol Hill until the legislative  session ends at midnight on Thursday.  Today floor time will be from 8 to noon  and from 2 to 5, or as late as needed, with a caucus lunch break at noon and an  Executive Appropriations meeting from 4 to 5 PM if needed.  Legislators want to  get budget bills into final form soon.<br /><br />BILLS TO BE  DEBATED<br /><br />Several bills in both HOUSE and SENATE are circled, which means  sponsors are working on compromise wording.  They could come to a vote today, or  negotiations might continue.<br /><br />CIRCLED IN THE HOUSE<br />are 3<sup>rd</sup>  substitute HB 187, which would regulate recreation on public streams on private  property, and HB 347, which would do away with private clubs and require ID  scanning for patrons under 30.<br />One issue regarding HB 187 is which streams  should be public and who should choose them--a special board or the legislature.<br />HB 372 would require prison inmates to use their private health insurance  instead of prison health services while incarcerated.<br /><br />ALSO IN THE  HOUSE  - Substitute HB 370 would increase the fine for drivers who illegally  park in disabled parking spots and send the proceeds to state programs that  employ people with disabilities.<br /><br />HB 198 would require county clerks to  ask for an extra $10 fee on marriage licenses, although applicants could decline  to pay it.  The proceeds would go to domestic violence shelters.<br /><br />At the  bottom of the list is HB 379 Environmental Litigation Bond. It requires  litigants who want to challenge an environmental action by a stay or preliminary  injunction to post a bond.  If unsuccessful, they would also pay damages to  defendants harmed by the delay.  Concerns include Constitutional questions such  as free speech and the right to petition the government. Only those citizens or  organizations who could afford the bond could challenge a proposal, for example  the Petcoke plant.<br /><br />CIRCLED IN THE SENATE ON THIRD READING:    SB 164  allows county clerks to register voters in locations other than the clerk’s  office.<br />Second Substitute SB 79, proposes a higher standard of proof, clear  and convincing evidence, for malpractice suits against emergency room on call  health care providers.<br />HB 122 would change the rules for public access to  government records.  The intent of the original law was to favor release of  information to the public when their need to know appeared equal to government’s  need to protect.  The question is whether it is really necessary to limit public  access in some cases as proposed by HB 122.<br /><br />CIRCLED IN THE SENATE ON  SECOND READING  are Substitute SB 69, requiring proof of citizenship to register  or vote, and SB 225, making legal immigrant children eligible for health  care.<br /><b><br /></b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED  FRIDAY</span><br /><br />IN THE HOUSE<br /><br />THE HOUSE passed HB 101, a pilot program  that provides assertive community treatment services to people with a severe  mental disorder who are not receiving mental health services or are  transitioning out of other programs such as prison programs. Sponsor Rep Carol  Moss said a similar jail diversion outreach team in Salt Lake City gives  wraparound services 24 hours a day for released inmates.  It has been 100  percent successful in preventing patients from returning to jail.<br />          Rep Wimmer complained that this was just a new mandate on the back of taxpayers  for a small minority who can’t afford the services.<br />         Rep Edwards  said it was the right thing to do and would cut hospital and jail costs.  Rep  Moss called it a lifesaver for families who find it next to impossible to get  services unless they have very good insurance.  HB 101 passed 40-34.<br /><br />SB  87, Preferred Drug List Revisions, was approved by the House 63-9.  The list of  medications for Medicaid patients includes less costly generic drugs.  The bill  provides that prescription of unlisted drugs by health care providers will  require Health Department preauthorization.  Rep Dunnigan said the private  sector already saves millions by using PDLs, as do CHIP, Medicare and Utah’s  Public Employee Health Plan.<br /><br />THE SENATE approved 2<sup>nd</sup>  Substitute SB 208 by an 18 to 8 vote.  Beginning January 1, 2011, public notices  now in newspapers would be posted only on the Utah Public Notice Website in  first and second class counties.  Smaller counties could publish in both  places.  Sponsor Sen Urquhart said this would reach more people and cost less. <br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>Eighty-two percent of Utahns have Internet  connectivity, (which of course means 18 per cent do not – another one of those  pesky minorities).  Senator Jones spoke up for older people, who tend to read,  not surf the Internet.  She said we read the paper differently and see things in  the paper we wouldn’t think to look for on line.  Several Senators said the  choice should be optional and the same for all counties. The bill is now on  Third Reading in the Senate.<br /><br />Substitute HJR 8, a “Joint Resolution  Regarding the Secret Ballot,” was approved by the Senate Friday.  It was lifted  from Rules and voted on for the second and third time without being on the board  for 24 hours, a rushed process that Senator Romero said was an abuse of  authority by the majority Republicans.  The Utah Constitution already says “all  elections shall be by secret ballot.”  HJR 8 adds: “including elections under  state or federal law for public office, on an initiative or referendum, or to  designate or authorize employee representation or individual  representation.”<br />         Bill sponsors said they aim to protect union  workers from predicted federal legislation that they think will take away the  secret ballot.  However, in a Constitutional Revision Commission meeting at noon  on Friday, Rep Menlove reported hysteria in her community because backers are  giving the impression that the secret ballot will be taken away from all voters  in all elections.  The CRC did not oppose or endorse HJR 8, saying they had not  studied it enough.  And Utah law does not allow CRC study after a constitutional  amendment has passed both houses.  Guess we will have to study it ourselves  between now and the 2010 election.<br /><br /><x-sigsep></x-sigsep><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/9025237052581178520/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=9025237052581178520&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/9025237052581178520";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/9025237052581178520";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/03/following-utah-legislature-30909.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:18;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-3342867854591204541";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-03-06T09:29:00.001-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-03-10T09:31:57.528-06:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 3/06/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:6909:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<br /><br />Friday  March 6, 2009<br /><br /></b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY</span><br /><br />Legislators will debate bills in the House and Senate this morning  from 9 to noon in the House and from 8 to noon in the Senate.  Afternoon floor  time is from 2 to 5.  Legislators take occasional breaks during floor time to  discuss in party meetings how to approach upcoming bills.  In the House they  call it caucusing.  In the Senate they move to “saunter” for 15 minutes or so.   Members of the Rules Committee also leave the floor periodically to decide which  bills to send out for a floor vote next. The 12 to 2 caucus lunch break is  another chance to make a plan of action for upcoming floor  debates.<br /><br /><br />         Towards the end of the session, as budget plans  firm up, special attention is paid to how much bills and services will cost.  In  fact the main budget committee, Executive Appropriations, meets today at 4:00 in  Room 30, House Building.<br /><br />        At noon, the Constitutional Revision  Commission meets in Capitol Room 450 to review Constitutional amendments  proposed for this year.  Amendment sponsors discuss their proposals with the  Commission, which may or may not express an opinion on their constitutionality.  CRC members include legislators, attorneys and judges.<br /><br />         Today  they review Substitute HJR 8, a “Joint Resolution Regarding the Secret Ballot,”  approved by the House Wednesday.  The Utah Constitution already says “all  elections shall be by secret ballot.”  HJR 8 adds specifics: “including  elections under state or federal law for public office, on an initiative or  referendum, or to designate or authorize employee representation or individual  representation.”  Sponsors are particularly concerned that labor unions  elections won’t be by secret ballot.<br />         SJR 8, “Joint Resolution  Regarding Eligibility for Legislative Office,” requires a person who is  appointed to the legislature to fill a mid-term vacancy to have been a resident  of the state for three years and a resident of the district for which the person  is appointed for six consecutive months prior to the appointment.  The  Constitution already sets these residency requirements for elected  legislators.<br /><br /><br />BILLS TO WATCH IN THE SENATE TODAY   On Third Reading: <br /><br />SB 61 would allow Home School and Private School Student Participation  in Extracurricular Activities.  SB 164 allows In-Person Voter Registration in  places other than the county clerk’s office.  Second Substitute SB 79 sets a  higher standard of proof, clear and convincing evidence, for Medical Malpractice  Claims Based on Emergency Room Care.  The standard would apply only to care by  on-call health care providers.  HB 122 would increase the amount of evidence the  public must present to show it needs information about pending government  investigations or litigation.  Substitute HB 126 would require voter ID on  Election Day.<br /><br /><br />IN THE HOUSE WATCH FOR:  Second Substitute HB 187,  which tries to balance recreational use of public waters with private property  rights. HB 347 would change liquor laws, eliminating private clubs and requiring  ID scans.  HB 101 sets up an assertive community mental health treatment pilot  program.  And HB 171 would provide medical care for legal immigrant children  without a 5-year waiting period.<br /><b><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED  YESTERDAY</span><br /><br /></b>Yesterday morning the SENATE RETIREMENT AND INDEPENDENT  ENTITIES COMMITTEE approved Third Substitute SB 76, which would create an  independent state agency called the Utah Generated Renewable Energy Electricity  Network Authority.  Quite a mouthful.  Its main purpose would be to prioritize  electrical transmission projects.  The authority’s board would review the  location and availability of renewable energy sources serving electrical loads  in the state, then see if there were adequate transmission lines and capacity to  bring those renewable energy sources to market.<br /><br />         They would  prioritize transmission projects based on location, whether they would support  potential renewable energy development, and economic development factors.  The  renewable energy source project could be existing, under construction, planned  or even “foreseeable.”  The Authority could issue bonds to finance the  construction and operation of the transmission projects.<br /><br />The Senate held  a lengthy discussion of an HB 100 proposal to switch funding for prison  education programs from the Board of Regents to the Department of Corrections.  The second substitute version of the bill, however,  will make development of  “recidivism reduction” plans a joint effort of Corrections, the Board of Regents  that oversees higher ed, and the State Board of Education.<br /><br />          Senator Goodfellow praised the current system, saying Utah’s model program is  respected for its skill training throughout the country.  He said higher ed had  already invested in buildings and equipment for the program. (Although not  mentioned in the Senate, the question of how practical the training is in  preparing for work after release seemed to be an issue on the House floor.).<br /><br />         The bill requires inmates to pay half the cost of their  postsecondary education.  Inmates unable to pay right away could repay 5 years  after they’re released and only if they had $200,000 in assets.  The second half  of program costs comes from a surcharge on long distance inmate telephone calls.<br /><br />The Senate talked more about health care reform yesterday, focusing on  “Netcare,” a planned mandate-light insurance policy for employees who lose their  health care when they lose their jobs. The plan is in Second Substitute HB 188.<br /><br />Several senators wondered whether the coverage for things like diabetes  management would be as good under Netcare as under the lost insurance.  Senator  Bell said Netcare would have fewer options, but it would cover preventive and  primary care and prescriptions, and it would be cheaper than COBRA.  Diabetes  management is generally recognized to save higher health costs down the  road.<br />         Under COBRA former employees can continue to get the same  coverage they had at work but must pay the full premiums, which are often  unaffordable. Senator Davis asked if Utah would coordinate with the federal  stimulus plan, which has COBRA assistance.  Senator Bell said we could look into  that.   The bill passed the Senate 27 to 0.<br /><br /><x-sigsep></x-sigsep><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/3342867854591204541/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=3342867854591204541&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/3342867854591204541";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/3342867854591204541";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/03/following-utah-legislature-30609.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:19;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-4799524569859198007";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-03-05T09:45:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-03-05T09:46:45.639-07:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 3/05/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:5995:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<br /><br />Thursday,  March 5, 2009<br /></b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY</span><br /><br />          Just one more week to go in the session.  Committee meetings are  over,  with a couple of exceptions.  So today House floor time will be 8 AM to  noon and 2 to 5 PM.  Senate sessions are from 9 AM to noon and from 2 to 5  PM.<br /><br />TWO COMMITTEES meetiat 7:30 THIS MORNING in Room  20:<br /><br />          The RETIREMENT AND INDEPENDENT ENTITIES INTERIM COMMITTEE  meets to review a proposal to create a new independent entity: the  Utah-Generated Renewable Energy Electricity Network Authority.<br />          The  SENATE RETIREMENT AND INDEPENDENT ENTITIES COMMITTEE will consider Second  Substitute SB 76 and Substitute HB 211.  SB 76 amends definitions and provisions  regarding energy production in the Public Utilities section of Utah  law.<br />          HB 211 requires an annual report of investment of Utah  retirement funds in Iran’s petroleum sector.  Some of those companies are  subject to sanctions under the federal Iran Action Act of 1996.<br /><br />ON THE  FLOOR:        On Thursdays, to start off, the House works on Senate bills while  the Senate works on House Bills.<br /><br />IN THE HOUSE<br />          Two circled  bills are on its Senate list.  SB 64 would give the Administrative Rules  Committee new power, in addition to its oversight of state agencies to be sure  that the rules they make to administer a law comply with the intent of the law.   Under SB 64 it could also review any legislative appropriation to see if the  state agency that received the money was spending it as the Legislature  intended. <br />          Substitute SCR 3 is a resolution expressing support for  the work of the Utah Council on Financial and Economic Education towards  increasing financial literacy of the citizens of the state.<br />          <br />Later the HOUSE may continue debate on two bills they voted down once but  decided to reconsider.  One is Second Substitute HB 187 which is about use of  streams on private property by fishermen and other sportsmen.  Substitute HB  145, concerning the accuracy of workplace drug testing programs, was also  recalled for reconsideration.<br /><br />IN THE SENATE<br />          The Senate  votes twice on every bill. House Bills it approved once yesterday are on what’s  called Third Reading for another vote today.   On the list are HB 222 ,the  Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act ,and HB 122.  HB 122 is a GRAMA bill that  requires requests for access to public records to show by a "preponderance of  the evidence" that the public interest favoring access outweighs the interest in  favoring restriction of access, a much more difficult standard for citizens to  meet than simply balancing the interests of the two sides.<br />          When the  Senate turns to the Second Reading calendar, they’ll find HB 140, which would  increase vehicle registration fees by $2 to avoid losing Highway Patrol troopers  to budget cuts, and  Substitute HB 126, requiring voter ID on Election  Day.<br />         <br /><b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED  YESTERDAY</span><br /><br /></b>IN HOUSE WORKFORCE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT, Rep Garn presented HB 430, which creates Renewable Energy Zones  (REZ) with the approval of local government, which would provide property tax  incentives, and the state, which would provide tax credits.  The projects must  generate Utah jobs and tax revenue. All tax credits must be based on  performance.<br />          Derrick Miller, Managing Director of Corporate  Recruitment and State Incentives in the Governor's Office of Economic  Development, explained that the bill is important to maintain Utah's  competitiveness.   The focus is on manufacturing within the growing renewable  energy (RE) sector, including manufacture of wind turbines, solar panels, etc.    Companies would have to be approved by the Governor’s office.<br />          He  said our current incentive program is not competitive with other states.  We've  been losing jobs to Colorado and Oregon. There are companies at the door waiting  for Utah to pass this bill.  HB 430 passed unanimously and is # 20 on the House  debate calendar.<br /><br />HOUSE REVENUE AND TAXATION gave unanimous approval to  HB 378, a bill that increases the property tax “circuitbreaker.” That’s the  sliding scale property tax credit available to renters and homeowners with  household incomes below $26,941.  People who claim the credit could increase it  by subtracting from their household income $1000 for each of two dependents.    The cost to the General Fund would be about $121,300 in 2010.<br /><br />IN THE  HOUSE and SENATE<br /><br />The House added their approval to two Senate ethics  bills. SB 156 by Senator Bell will increase the number of gifts to legislators  worth more than $25, including meals and sporting events, that lobbyists will  have to report, making them more transparent to public view.  SB 162 by Senator  Valentine will disallow personal use of leftover campaign funds by elected  officials after they leave office.<br /><br />To return the favor, the SENATE  approved three House Health Care Reform bills, Substitute House Bills 165, 188,  and 331.  Senators highly praised them as a first step that increases  flexibility and transparency in the health insurance market, with more choice  for consumers including portable, lower cost policies that cover less. They said  the next steps should be to make provider costs and outcomes transparent in  order to put consumers in the driver’s seat.  Cost control and integrating  Medicaid, Medicare and self-insured large companies into the reforms were on  their “to do” list as well.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/4799524569859198007/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=4799524569859198007&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/4799524569859198007";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/4799524569859198007";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/03/following-utah-legislature-30509.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:20;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:69:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-990051532436275458";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-03-04T11:55:00.001-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-03-04T11:58:26.861-07:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 3/04/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:7092:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE</b><b><a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/legislative-updates.htm" eudora="autourl"><br /></a><br />Wednesday,  March 4, 2009<br /><br /></b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY</span><br /><b><br /></b> Final standing committee  meetings of the session meet from 8 to 9 a.m. today.  Floor debate will be from  9 to noon and from 2 to 5 PM.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">THIS MORNING</span><br /><br />HOUSE REVENUE AND  TAXATION will consider HB 378, a bill that increases the property tax  “circuitbreaker.” That’s the sliding scale property tax credit available to  renters and homeowners with household incomes below $26,941. <br /><br />People who  claim the credit could increase their credit by subtracting from their household  income $1000 for each dependent.  Income could be decreased by a limit of 2  dependents, or $2000 per household. And the claimant or the claimant’s spouse  could not qualify as a dependent.  The cost to the General Fund would be about  $121,300 in 2010.<br /><br /><br />HOUSE WORKFORCE SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT will debate HB 430.  It offers an economic development tax credit to  businesses that invest in alternative energy projects. Its purpose is to  increase generation of renewable energy and create high paying jobs in the  renewable energy industry.<br /><br />Projects would be located in renewable energy  development zones created by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development in  conformity with community master plans and approved by the local government.   Local government would offer incentives as well, such as abatement of all or  part of property taxes for up to 30 years.           <br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>Qualifying projects would have to include significant  capital investment, high paying jobs, or significant purchases from Utah  vendors; and generate new state revenues.  Credits are expected to cost the  General Fund about $2.4 million and the Education Fund $187,000 the first year.  The cost in subsequent years would be $9.6 million from the General Fund and  $412,000 from the Education Fund.<br /><br /><br />HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS will  look at HB 362, which sets penalties for destroying or mutilating the record  copy of a government record. HB 362 also allows a government to charge a fee for  researching and responding to a records request if the requester has already  submitted 12 requests within the year. The fee would not apply to requests made  for a story or report for general publication.<br /><b><br /></b>IN SENATE  COMMITTEES<br /><br />SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES will discuss Substitute HB  64, authorizing a strike force to combat violent and other major felony crimes  associated with illegal immigration and human trafficking. Officers of US  Immigration and Customs Enforcement plus state and local law enforcement  personnel could participate voluntarily.<br /><br />It also provides for a  Fraudulent Documents Identification Unit and appropriates $891,000 to the Office  of the Attorney General to help run it.<br />          Another immigration bill,  HJR 25, urges Utah employers to hire only individuals who are authorized to work  in the United States.<b><br /> </b><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_ForeColor" title="Text Color" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);SelectColor(this,'ForeColor');ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Text Color" class="gl_color_fg" border="0" /></span></span><br /><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED  YESTERDAY</span><br /></b><br />The HOUSE concentrated on the great outdoors yesterday.   In the morning they honored Don Peay with a concurrent resolution HCR 9 for his  contributions to conserving Utah’s natural resources, including habitat  restoration and watershed and stream bed improvements.<br />          Then they  spent most of the afternoon floor session discussing 2<sup>nd</sup> Substitute  HB 187, sponsored by Rep Ferry, trying to strike a balance between private  property rights and access to Utah streams by fishermen and other sportsman. <br /><br /> A recent Supreme Court decision said the public does have a public  easement right to streambeds but did not spell out details of how to balance  that right with trespassing protection for homes and ranches that, as Rep McIff  said, existed before Utah even became a state. <br /><br />Rep Noel also favored  protecting those he said Thomas Jefferson referred to as virtuous cultivators of  the earth.  He mentioned that two-thirds of the state is public land with full  access for sportsmen.  After an exhausting discussion, Reps King and Bird  recommended sending the matter to interim study, and the bill failed on a vote  of 34-41.<br /><br /><br />The SENATE discussed SB 79 – Health Reform – Medical  Malpractice Amendments at great length.<br />          One part of SB 79 proposed  that expert witnesses from out of state at malpractice trials be temporarily  licensed.  Then they could be disciplined if their testimony was found  unprofessional. Senator Hillyard said it’s hard to get Utah doctors to testify  because they are sometimes harassed by other doctors afterward.  Local doctors  and juries make convictions difficult.<br /><br />          The other part of SB 79  proposes a higher standard, clear and convincing evidence instead of  preponderance of evidence, to convict Emergency Room physicians of malpractice.   The reasoning is that emergency room patients come without their medical  histories, sometimes unconscious, making good decisions harder, with problems  outside an on-call physician’s specialty.  Sponsor Senator Knudson said  emergency rooms are losing personnel over the issues.  Senator McCoy thought the  higher standard of evidence was not needed, because knowledge of the patient,  not perfect knowledge, is taken into consideration.<br /><br />          A major  concern is that doctors involved in malpractice suits see the premiums for  malpractice insurance increase by as much as $50,000 a year as reported by  Senator Liljenquist. <br />Senator Jones brought up the issue of whether this  increases the practice of defensive medicine - ordering too many tests that  raise the cost of health care.  Senator Robles questioned whether the higher  evidence standard would bring down the costs of malpractice premiums, and said  the AARP thinks the bill is unnecessary.  Senator Romero added that very few  malpractice cases go to trial or are awarded, and best practices training is  needed to reduce health care costs instead. <br /><br />SB 79 passed it from second  to third reading – but just barely by 16-12-1.  A bill takes 16 votes to pass  the 29 member Senate.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:174:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/990051532436275458/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=990051532436275458&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:81:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/990051532436275458";s:9:"link_self";s:81:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/990051532436275458";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/03/following-utah-legislature-30409.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:21;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-5442762483769314412";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-03-03T10:01:00.002-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-03-03T10:04:48.274-07:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 3/03/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:6710:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/legislative-updates.htm" eudora="autourl"><br /></a><br />Tuesday,  March 3, 2009<br /></b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY</span><br /><br />This morning legislative standing committees meet from 8 to 9 – except  House Business and Labor begins at 7:30 - and from 4 to 5 this afternoon.  The  last committee hearings of the session will be tomorrow morning.  Floor debate  is scheduled for 9 to noon and 2 to 3:50 today.  All lunches this week are  caucus lunches.<br /><br /><br />THIS MORNING<br /><br />HOUSE BUSINESS AND LABOR will  consider HB 171. A new provision of the federal Children's Health Insurance  Program allows states to lift the 5-year waiting period on Medicaid and CHIP  eligibility for legal immigrant children. A significant number of these children  lack coverage because their parents work one or more jobs that do not offer  employer-based coverage. HB171 and a similar Senate Bill, SB225, would implement  the new option in Utah. Around 800 uninsured children could be covered for  preventive diagnosis and care, immunizations and other services at a cost of up  to $487,000. <br />         <br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>HB 454, Small Group  Reinsurance, is also in committee.  It creates the Utah Reinsurance Pool as a  non-profit entity within the State Department of Insurance for small employer  group health insurers and defined contribution health plans.  As explained by  the Commonwealth Fund, reinsurance – insurance for insurance companies - can  relieve health insurers of the risk of "adverse selection" (that is,  disproportionate enrollments of individuals with extraordinarily high medical  costs). Then insurers may be able to significantly lower premiums, making health  coverage affordable for more people.<br /><br /><br />SENATE TRANSPORTATION PUBLIC  UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY WILL continue to discuss Second Substitute SB 41, which  is about deciding where to put high voltage power lines.  More lines will be  needed to distribute electricity generated by new sources, including wind  power.<br /><br /><br />THIS AFTERNOON<br /><br />SENATE REVENUE AND TAXATION takes on  SB 5, which describes ways for state agencies and universities to fund capital  facilities.  They include: Revenue bonds (borrowing that is paid back by revenue  generated by the facility after it’s built instead of by taxpayers); using  agency, institutional or donated funds; or leasing or disposing of real  property. <br />Property in Salt Lake for an alcoholic beverage control  warehouse, a University of Utah south campus housing project, a Utah Valley  University Business Resource Center, and expansion of the University  Neuropsychiatric Institute are some of the projects that need  funding.<br /><br />SENATE WORKFORCE SERVICES WILL HEAR HB 412, an energy policy  bill that discusses what energy sources should be used in the future and how  they would affect economic development in Utah.<br /><br /><b></b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED  YESTERDAY</span><br /><br />SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS passed SB 248 on a 4-2 vote.  It  would allow first and second-class cities with airports to impose a sales tax of  .7% or less beginning October 1, 2009.  Its purpose would be to fund a public  transit systemm a local highway of regional significance or other infrastructure  that benefits city residents or people traveling to the city. One project that  backers have in mind is a Salt Lake City – Davis county streetcar or light rail  system. <br /><br />          Jim Olsen of the retailers association said the tax  would put Salt Lake City retailers at a disadvantage.  Lincoln Shurtz of the  Utah League of Cities and Towns explained that the resort community tax allows  tourists who don’t pay property taxes to help pay for the daytime services they  use.  Salt Lake City’s daytime population is twice its nighttime population.   Salt Lake City government spokesmen assured the committee that the city is  committed to hearings and transparency on the  decision.<br /><br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>SB 223 also passed 4-2.  It allows  cities and counties to seek and sell carbon credits when they capture carbon by  converting their waste and garbage to charcoal or biochar (a soil improver).  Senator Jenkins was strongly opposed.  He said that human-caused CO2 isn’t close  to being proven.  Sponsor Senator Romero pointed out that regardless of the  science, communities would benefit by saving landfill space and restoring the  soil while earning carbon tax credits if the market develops.  A member of the  public, Jerold McDonough, has been studying carbon dioxide emissions.  He said  the many decaying trees from the pine bark beetle infestation that release  carbon into the air could instead be converted to charcoal or  biochar.<br /><br />          SHB 126, requiring voter ID on Election Day passed  4-2 as well.  Cost questions were raised, such as the need to train election  judges to recognize various forms of ID.  Utah County elections director Scott  Hogenson thought that could be incorporated into the regular training.  Jason  Yocum of Salt Lake County Elections said Indiana and Georgia needed costly voter  education campaigns to help meet the new ID requirements, and Utah voters would  need help, too.  Sponsor Daw said that information would be in the State  Elections Voter Information pamphlet.<br /><br />SENATE EDUCATION voted down SB 113  on a 3-3 tie vote.  SB 113 would delay the effective date of SB 81, last year’s  immigration bill, by one year until July 1, 2010.  Sponsor Senator Jones said  the timing was right.  Immigration has been reduced by the slowing economy and  the $1.8 million fiscal note could be used in a more positive way.  Other bills  already address costs and criminal behavior related to illegal immigration.  <br /><br />          Several urged a comprehensive federal solution instead of a  piecemeal approach.  Senator Jenkins said he hadn’t heard President Obama  mention immigration reform since 6 weeks before the election.  But an  immigration lawyer cited statements by Obama in February  saying reform is a  priority. He intends to introduce a bill by summer and pass it by fall.  Other  opponents said identity theft, competition for jobs, and human trafficking are  urgent problems. Senators Goodfellow, Morgan and Stephenson voted aye. Senators  Bramble, Dayton and Jenkins voted no. Senator Hillyard was absent.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/5442762483769314412/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=5442762483769314412&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/5442762483769314412";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/5442762483769314412";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/03/following-utah-legislature-30309.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:22;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-7177385859200333856";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-03-02T08:44:00.002-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-03-02T08:48:47.799-07:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 3/02/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:6422:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/legislative-updates.htm" eudora="autourl"><br /></a><br />Monday,  March 2, 2009<br /></b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY</span><br /><br />THIS MORNING<br /><br />SENATE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL  SUBDIVISIONS considers SB 248.  It would allow first and second-class cities  with airports to impose a sales tax of .70% or less beginning October 1, 2009.   The purpose of the tax would be to fund a system for public transit, a local  highway of regional significance or other infrastructure that benefits city  residents or people traveling to the city. Presumably the TRAX line to the Salt  Lake Airport could benefit.<br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>Also in committee,  Substitute HB 126 would require voters to present ID when they vote on Election  Day.  The purpose of the bill is to head off voter fraud although no fraud,  including voting by non-citizens, has occurred in Utah. Voters least likely to  have ID are seniors and people with disabilities – especially those not living  in their own homes, African-Americans, Native Americans, and people with low  incomes.<br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>The committee also  will consider SB223.  It  would allow cities and counties to seek and sell carbon credits when they  capture carbon by converting their waste and garbage to charcoal or biochar (a  soil improver).<br /><br />SENATE REVENUE AND TAXATION will hear a recycling bill  also.  SB 224 would allow the Department of Transportation to reuse industrial  by-products in their projects.  By-products could include construction debris,  residuals from processing ores or minerals, flue gas emission residuals, fly  ash, slag, and cement kiln dust.  Material that causes a public nuisance or  health hazard and hazardous wastes could not be used.<br /><br />HOUSE NATURAL  RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT may discuss HB 379 – Environmental  Litigation Bond.  Anyone asking for the government to delay an environmental  action through a preliminary injunction or administrative stay would have to  post a bond.  And if unsuccessful they would have to pay damages to defendants  harmed by the delay.  Similar bills proposed in the past have raised questions  of requiring money (the bond) to petition the government and singling out  environmental actions.<br /><br />IN THE AFTERNOON<br /><br />SENATE EDUCATION will  consider SB 113.  It would delay the effective date of SB 81, last year’s  immigration bill, by one year until July 1, 2010.<br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>SB  74 requires local school board or charter schools to enact detailed gang  prevention and intervention policies.  Faculty and personnel would report gang  activities to the administrator. Students who participated would be excluded  from extracurricular activities, including interscholastic athletics, and  restitution would be required for gang-related graffiti or damage to school  property.<b><br /></b><br /><b>Monday, March 2, 2009<br /></b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED  FRIDAY</span><br /><br />Friday lunchtime committees were busy last week.<br /><br />The  HOUSE RETIREMENT COMMITTEE  approved a bill to cut legislators’ daily pay by 10  percent to $117 a day through 2010.  The reduction would apply to general and  special sessions and authorized legislative meetings, HB 410 passed by a vote of  4-2.   HB 96, giving a charter school that had opted out of participation in the  state retirement system a one-time opportunity to opt back in, was also  approved. <br /><br />The HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE made some progress. It passed SB  162, prohibiting the personal use of leftover campaign funds by elected  officials after they leave office.  Candidates and incumbents already must use  campaign funds only for political purposes. SB 156 also passed. It increases the  reporting of gifts by lobbyists to public officials, adding meals that cost more  than $25 and admission to sporting, recreational or artistic events.  HB 213, a  bill banning gifts worth more than $5 from lobbyists to public officials and  their immediate families, with some exceptions, was approved as well.<br /><br />A  bill to allow direct nonpartisan election of State Board of Education members  was squashed in the SENATE EDUCATION committee.  HB 150 would have repealed the  current system whereby a committee made up of education and business  representatives choose three candidates who have filed for the office in each  district.  The list goes to the Governor, who then picks two to go on the  ballot.  This system grew out of concern on the part of business that our  schools were not educating in ways that would contribute to Utah’s growing and  changing economy.  But it does allow the voices of special interests to limit  choices for all parents and voters. <br />          When HB 150 passed the House,  it was opposed by many Republicans who thought direct election was a good idea  but the election should be on a partisan basis. Rep Sumsion said if candidates  had to work with convention delegates throughout their large districts they  would become better known.  And partisan backing would be a source of funding  for candidates, giving them a way to make themselves known to the voters. Also  voters could be assured that candidates represented the philosophy of their  parties, (particularly about sex education apparently since that was the subject  of the examples given.) <br /><x-tab>        </x-tab>Opponents argued that Board  members should focus on education issues, and not be distracted by the many  non-education issues political parties are concerned with.<br />On the subject of  candidates making themselves known to voters (so that voters don't have to  resort to voting for whoever is listed first on the ballot, mentioned by Rep  Hughes), I should say that the League of Women Voters e-Voter Guide on <a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/">lwvutah.org</a>  last election received excellent  responses from school board candidates answering questions about education, in  higher percentages than from Congressional or legislative candidates.  <x-tab>      </x-tab>And it was free.  No campaign contributions  required.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/7177385859200333856/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=7177385859200333856&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/7177385859200333856";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/7177385859200333856";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/03/following-utah-legislature-30209.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:23;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-3510415776142154828";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-02-27T08:42:00.001-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-02-27T08:44:37.661-07:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 2/27/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:6202:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/legislative-updates.htm" eudora="autourl"><br /></a><br />Friday,  February 27, 2009<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY </span><br /></b><br />Today standing  committees will meet this morning from 8 to 9 and again from 4 to 6 this  afternoon. Floor debate will be from 9 to noon and from 2 to 4.  The House  Ethics and House Retirement Committees meet at noon, and the Senate Retirement  Committee meets at 1 PM.<br /><br />SENATE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES has scheduled  HJR 3, expressing the Legislature’s support for public and private efforts to  increase and improve cancer treatment, screening and research.  It recognizes  the importance of cancer prevention, early detection and survivorship programs,  as well as public and private funding for research.  Utah has some of the lowest  cancer screening rates in the nation, thus some of the highest rates of cancer  diagnosed at late stages.<br /><br />          Another resolution, Substitute HJR 5,  encourages Congress to include the Navajo Nation in a federal web access pilot  program that provides information needed to collect child support, establish  paternity and enforce child and medical support obligations.  Over half the  Navajo Nation population lives below poverty level and over 40% are  unemployed.<br /><br />SENATE EDUCATION will consider Substitute HB 150. It  requires direct, nonpartisan election of members of the State Board of  Education, repealing the current selection by the governor and a nominating  committee.  HB 150 has passed the House, where a substitute bill to make the  election partisan was voted down 31-42.<br /><br />AT NOON<br /><br />The HOUSE  RETIREMENT COMMITTEE will consider HB 410.  It reduces legislators’ daily pay by  10 percent to $117 a day through 2010 for general and special sessions and  authorized legislative meetings. HB 96 would give a charter school that had  opted out of participation in the state retirement system a one-time opportunity  to opt back in. <br /><br />HOUSE ETHICS will debate SB 162, prohibiting the  personal use of leftover campaign funds by elected officials after they leave  office.  Also on the agenda: SB 156, which increases the reporting by lobbyists  of gifts to public officials, adding meals that cost more than $25 and admission  to sporting, recreational or artistic events.  HB 213, would ban gifts over $5,  with some exceptions, to public officials and their immediate families <br /><br />At 1:00 The SENATE RETIREMENT COMMITTEE will hear SB 195, suspending  for a year, beginning July 1st, the 1.5% employer defined contribution made on  behalf of some state employees in the Public Employee’s Noncontributory  Retirement System.<br /><br /><br />IN THE AFTERNOON  at 4:10<br /><br />SB 41, Siting  of High Voltage Power Lines, heads the SENATE TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC  UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY agenda. The Public Service Commission would conduct  hearings and designate sites for power lines that cross more than one local  government’s jurisdiction.<br /> <b><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED  YESTERDAY</span><br /></b><br />In Committee action<br /><br />HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND  CRIMINAL JUSTICE moved along Substitute HB 64, authorizing a multi-agency strike  force to combat violent and other major felony crimes associated with illegal  immigration and human trafficking. It also provides for a Fraudulent Documents  Identification Unit.<br /><br />          Officers of US Immigration and Customs  Enforcement plus state and local law enforcement personnel could participate  voluntarily in the effort.  HB 64 appropriates $891,000 to the Office of the  Attorney General to help run it.<br /><br />HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE  AND ENVIRONMENT approved HJR 16, a proposed Constitutional amendment that  changes the article on municipal water rights.  The amendment would allow  municipalities to lease their water, but only if the leased water rights were  for use within the state of Utah.  The lease could not be longer than seven  years, but it could be renewed one or more times.<br /><br />IN THE  HOUSE<br /><br />The House passed HB 184, which restores an income tax credit for a  dependent adult with a disability or dependent child with a disability.  Sponsor  Rep Dougall said he wanted to help taxpayers who offer loving care at home for  those who depend on them.<br /><br />          This new exemption to the flat tax  (no, said Rep Dougall –it’s a single rate tax, not flat) provoked some  criticism.  Rep. Mascaro said the pure flat tax just doesn’t work in a community  with a variety of needs.  Rep. Harper on the other hand , a fan of the flat tax,  said the credit served a great, great, great purpose but was bad, bad, bad  policy.  Rep Duckworth reported she is getting email critical of the flat tax  from constituents on fixed incomes.<br /><br />HB 390, which eliminates absentee  balloting in election clerk’s offices on the Monday before the election, was  debated yesterday.  Sponsor Mathis of Vernal said his county clerk asked for  help, citing limited staff and being busy preparing for the election on Monday.  He said all county clerks were in favor with the exception of Salt Lake County.  <br />          Rep Bird tried to amend HB 390 to let 1<sup>st</sup> and  2<sup>nd</sup> class counties continue Monday voting.  He estimated 5800 voters  would be denied the opportunity to vote in Salt Lake, enough to turn an  election. <br /><br />          Rep Mathis replied that he had been advised that  different rules for different counties is probably not constitutional.  He also  said that emergency voting would still be allowed and early voting is now giving  voters more options.  Rep Hansen indignantly asked where the spirit of public  service was on the part of the clerks.  Salt Lake has 700 precincts and many  headaches but manages to handle Monday voting. But the bill passed 49-26.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/3510415776142154828/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=3510415776142154828&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/3510415776142154828";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/3510415776142154828";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/02/following-utah-legislature-22709.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}i:24;a:13:{s:2:"id";s:70:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100.post-6920066042135155084";s:9:"published";s:29:"2009-02-26T09:33:00.000-07:00";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2009-02-26T09:35:34.440-07:00";s:5:"title";s:38:"Following the Utah Legislature 2/26/09";s:12:"atom_content";s:6249:"<b>LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE<a href="http://www.lwvutah.org/legislative-updates.htm" eudora="autourl"><br /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Thursday,  February 26, 2009</span><br /></b><br />WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY<br /><br />Today standing committees will meet only in the morning,  from 8 to  10.  But there will be two floor sessions, from 10 to noon and from 2 to 5 PM.   Legislators are anxious to move as many of the 174 bills on the boards as  possible before Friday, when House boards are likely to be wiped clean.  The  bills will then be reprioritized and sent back to the floor by the Rules  Committee. <br /><br />THIS MORNING<br /><br />HB 64 heads the HOUSE LAW ENFORCEMENT  AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE agenda.  It authorizes a multi-agency strike force to  combat violent and other major crimes associated with illegal immigration and  human trafficking. Officers of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement plus state  and local law enforcement personnel could participate voluntarily.  HB 64  appropriates $1 million to the Department.<br /><br />HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES,  AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT will consider HB 429.  It expands the legal  definition of “renewable energy source” to include energy from methane gas in  abandoned coal mines.  Other renewable sources listed in the current law include  wind, solar; wave, tidal and ocean thermal; organic waste, woody debris from  thinning forests and rangeland, agricultural waste, dedicated energy crops, gas  from landfills, geothermal energy located outside the state, captured waste gas  and waste heat, and efficiency upgrades to hydroelectric facilities.<br />     <br />     Also before the committee is HJR 16, a proposed Constitutional  amendment that changes the article on municipal water rights.  Currently, the  Constitution (Article XI, Section 6) doesn’t allow a municipality to lease or  sell waterworks, water rights or, or sources of water supply that it owns or  controls.  It does allow water rights to be exchanged, but only if the water is  used for the public supply of the municipality’s inhabitants.  The proposed  amendment would allow the municipality to lease its water, but only so long as  the leased water rights are for use within the state of Utah.  The lease could  not be longer than seven years, but it could be renewed one or more  times.<br /><br /><br />In HOUSE JUDICIARY, HB 401 – Custody and Parent Time  Amendments for Service Members – addresses custody and parent-time issues that  arise when a National Guard or Reserve member is away temporarily for training  or on a noncombat mission.  During the absence, parent-time rights could be  delegated by a custodial service member to family members with a close and  substantial relationship to the minor children if the non-custodial parent were  unwilling or unable to provide care.<br /> <b><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY</span><br /></b><br />Some interesting bills were  debated on the House and Senate floors yesterday.<br /><br />The SENATE moved two  ethics bills to the top of their list and quickly passed them.  SB 156 by  Senator Bell will increase the number of gifts to legislators over $25 that  lobbyists will have to report, making them more transparent to public view.  SB  162 by Senator Valentine will disallow personal use of leftover campaign funds  by elected officials after they leave office.<br /><br />The HOUSE passed HB 328,  creating a pilot program of two-year grants to school districts and charter  schools who want to develop performance-based compensation plans for elementary  school teachers.  Guidelines say that student learning gains (not test scores,  though) should account for 40 percent of the compensation.  The teacher’s  instructional quality as measured by classroom observation or “other  instruments” would account for 40 percent, and the remaining 20 percent should  include a measure of parent, student or community satisfaction. <br />           Some questions were raised about what “other instruments” might measure  instructional quality and whether we can afford even the $300,000 to fund the  grants.  Rep Holdaway also wanted to be sure that teachers’ base salaries would  not be diminished, that the compensation would be an add-on.  The bill passed  65-7.<br /><br />The HOUSE defeated HB 208, on a 34-40 vote, including a call of  the House to be sure everyone voted.  The bill would have required undocumented  children of undocumented immigrants to sign an affidavit saying that they are  not employed or earning income in the U.S. Otherwise, they would permanently  lose the in-state tuition rate at state funded universities and colleges.  <br />      <br />   The sponsor, Rep Greenwood, a professional law enforcement  officer, said students could not be working without a Social Security card  (although that may not be correct, depending on the employer) so they are likely  guilty of showing a false card, perjury on the I-9 employment form they fill  out, or identity theft.  He feared students were not aware that the penalty for  these felonies could prevent their qualifying for citizenship or for some jobs,  such as security jobs, in the future.<br />      <br />   Representatives Litvack.  Beck and Mascaro shared stories about undocumented students who have been here  for years and struggle to attend college and improve themselves.  They said  becoming citizens can take 10 or 20 years.<br />       <br />  Representative  McIff regretted that whatever the purpose of the bill it would “narrow the  opening of the school house door,” as happened with Governor George Wallace in  1963 in Alabama, and asked if any country had ever benefited from  that.<br /><br />Second substitute HB 120 passed easily without debate.  It creates  a Snake Valley Aquifer research team to compile scientific data and an advisory  council to advocate for Utah’s interest in the “Las Vegas Water Grab,” a plan to  pump and transport Snake Valley water to Las Vegas to support its urban growth<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p> Contribute via <a href="http://www.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/11637">ActBlue.</a> </p></div>";s:12:"link_replies";s:176:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/6920066042135155084/comments/defaulthttp://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7216228048396265100&postID=6920066042135155084&isPopup=true";s:9:"link_edit";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/6920066042135155084";s:9:"link_self";s:82:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default/6920066042135155084";s:4:"link";s:80:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/02/following-utah-legislature-22609.html";s:11:"author_name";s:6:"jillan";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/17440249267892156285";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:3:"thr";a:1:{s:5:"total";s:1:"0";}}}s:7:"channel";a:14:{s:2:"id";s:45:"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216228048396265100";s:7:"updated";s:29:"2014-03-19T18:29:47.356-06:00";s:5:"title";s:15:"Cache Democrats";s:8:"subtitle";s:29:"By the people, For the people";s:42:"link_http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed";s:54:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default";s:9:"link_self";s:62:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default";s:4:"link";s:35:"http://cachedemocrats.blogspot.com/";s:8:"link_hub";s:32:"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/";s:9:"link_next";s:92:"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/7216228048396265100/posts/default?start-index=26&max-results=25";s:11:"author_name";s:9:"Jason The";s:10:"author_uri";s:51:"http://www.blogger.com/profile/15518866228386927143";s:12:"author_email";s:19:"noreply@blogger.com";s:9:"generator";s:7:"Blogger";s:10:"opensearch";a:3:{s:12:"totalresults";s:2:"68";s:10:"startindex";s:1:"1";s:12:"itemsperpage";s:2:"25";}}s:9:"textinput";a:0:{}s:5:"image";a:0:{}s:9:"feed_type";s:4:"Atom";s:12:"feed_version";N;s:8:"encoding";s:5:"UTF-8";s:16:"_source_encoding";s:0:"";s:5:"ERROR";s:0:"";s:7:"WARNING";s:0:"";s:19:"_CONTENT_CONSTRUCTS";a:6:{i:0;s:7:"content";i:1;s:7:"summary";i:2;s:4:"info";i:3;s:5:"title";i:4;s:7:"tagline";i:5;s:9:"copyright";}s:16:"_KNOWN_ENCODINGS";a:3:{i:0;s:5:"UTF-8";i:1;s:8:"US-ASCII";i:2;s:10:"ISO-8859-1";}s:5:"stack";a:0:{}s:9:"inchannel";b:0;s:6:"initem";b:0;s:9:"incontent";b:0;s:11:"intextinput";b:0;s:7:"inimage";b:0;s:17:"current_namespace";b:0;s:4:"etag";s:42:"W/"456e233a-c91b-4de7-99fc-86c1599c8cc8"
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