Want to See Comprehensive Sex Ed in Schools?

Posted on June 11, 2009 by greenjenni

The Utah Legislature doesn’t believe there’s enough support for comprehensive sex ed in Utah. You can change that perception by attending the Health and Human Services Interim Committee meeting on Wed. June 17, 9:00am, in room 250 of the Capitol.

From Planned Parenthood Action Council’s invite on Facebook:

“Bring your friends and come listen to the Health and Human Services Interim Committee discuss a bill to get comprehensive sex ed into schools, and RAISE YOUR HAND IN SUPPORT! It’s that simple. Let our representatives know that ,”yes, Virginia, there IS support in Utah for giving our kids the facts they need to stay healthy!”"

Filed under: Education, Reproductive Rights, Utah Legislature, health care | Leave a Comment »

Energy Solutions moves one step closer to importing Italian nuclear waste

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Becky

nukeOn Friday, U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart ruled that an interstate compact designed to keep nuclear waste out of the state of Utah doesn’t have authority to do so. “Congress established compacts in 1980s so states would band together to dispose of their own radioactive waste in an effort to ensure that no one state would become a national dumping ground for the toxic material. ”

Governor Huntsman had used Utah’s veto power under the compact to prevent ES from importing nuclear waste from Italy. ES sued saying the compact could not regulate a private facility. The judge agreed. It certainly begs the question what can the compact regulate?

Cross-posted at OneUtah.org

EnergySolutions Inc. wants to import up to 20,000 tons of low-level radioactive waste from Italy. After processing in Tennessee, about 1,600 tons would be disposed of in Utah.

If approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the waste would be imported through the ports of Charleston, S.C. or New Orleans.

The company’s pending import license application drew an unprecedented number of public comments, most in opposition.

Tom Clements, Southeastern Nuclear Campaign Coordinator for the environmental group Friends of the Earth, said Saturday he’s encouraging port officials and unions to use all legal means to keep the waste from coming on shore.

“Italy and the rest of the world must deal with their own radioactive waste and not continue irresponsible attempts to dump their dangerous material here,” said Clements, who is based in Columbia, S.C.

Filed under: Utah Legislature | 2 Comments »

Hard economic times and cost of tuition making college education further from reality for some

Posted on March 28, 2009 by deesings

Higher education was not exempt from the figurative slash of the knife in its budget this year by the Utah legislature.

Lawmakers cut 9% from higher education’s funding, resulting inemployee furloughs and layoffs and  higher tuition for students pursuing their education at Utah colleges.  It is anticipated that future years will see even more cuts to higher education budgets.

While some students are grateful that the tuition hikes did not go any higher than they did (ranging anywhere from 4% to 9.5%  in Utah’s  colleges), there are many students who are working their way through college and barely making it with current tuition costs.  These hikes will make it even more difficult for these students to attain their goals during this time of economic hardships when their employment situations will not see relative pay increases to match their now rising cost of attending post secondary institutions.

Utah needs to examine tuition-free programs for students, particularly those with low incomes, like other states do, such as Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, and West Virginia.

Filed under: Education, Utah Legislature, budget, higher education, school tuition | 1 Comment »

Language of lobbyist bill in question

Posted on March 28, 2009 by deesings

HB345, a bill that was passed in the 2009 Utah Legislative session, prevents former Utah Lawmakers from returning t othe Legislator as paid lobbyists for one year.

Well, sort of.

Turns out that the Utah Lt. Governor’s office has interpreted the language of the bill in such a way that allows former lawmakers to still be able to return on behalf of him/herselfor a business with which he/she is associated, unless the “primary activity” of the business is lobbying or governmental relations.

This loophhole has bill sponors and advocates up in arms.

“I hope that this sends a signal to those legislators who are lobbying in 2009 and sat on this floor last year,”  Rep. Christine Johnson (D-SLC) told fellow House members in February, “that they understand that it’s the will of the Legislature and the will of the people to have a cooling off period.” The bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, doesn’t believe the bill is fatally flawed. He’s surprised at how the Lt. Governor’s Office interpreted the bill and said he plans to discuss it with Herbert.

“If I need to tighten the language, I’ll do it. I’m passionate about it,” Dee said. “It wasn’t a feel-good bill — it had some teeth in it and got it done.”

Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, sponsored HB345 on its rough ride through the Senate.”I tried to make it crystal clear that what was prohibited was the garden variety contract lobbyist,” Bell said, “those guys in the hall who are there for three different businesses.”

Quotes from Salt Lake Tribune article

Amazingly, 71 or 75 Utah House members signed on HB345, which leaves me wondering if this loophole glared out at some who chose to keep silent while the bill got passed.

I anticipate this issue taking on a legal challenge.

Filed under: Utah Legislature, transparency | 1 Comment »

Nuclear Issues: The Legislative Rundown for 2009

Posted on March 17, 2009 by deesings

HEAL Utah has offered this “recap” of the Legislative session for 2009 nuclear issues:

Passed: Economic Development Incentives for Alternative Energy Projects (HB430) passes but is amended to include nuclear power as renewable energy.
On the last day of the session, Sen. Sheldon Killpack (R-Syracuse) tainted a bill intended to provide tax incentives for renewable energy generation and manufacturing by amending it to include nuclear power as renewable energy. Renewable energy projects should benefit from these incentives well before a nuclear power plant ever comes online, but the amendment’s passage is a troubling gauge of our legislature’s understanding of basic science.

Please thank these legislators for speaking out against this amendment and for understanding that nuclear power is not renewable:

Rep. Sheryl Allen (R-Bountiful): sherylallen@utah.gov, Home (801) 295−8576
Rep. Janice Fisher (D-Salt Lake): janicefisher@utah.gov, Home (801) 250−2698
Rep. Christine Johnson (D-Salt Lake): christinejohnson@utah.gov, Cell (801) 661−3489

Failed: Environmental Litigation Bond (HB 379)
This bill sponsored by anti-environment crusader Mike Noel (R-Kanab) would have required any Utahn who wants to stop a company from threatening their health or environment to first post a bond to cover the company’s costs for stopping the threatening activity in question. Though it passed the House overwhelmingly, a more reluctant Senate never brought the bill to a vote under the strong possibility of a veto from Governor Huntsman.

Please thank Rep. Kay McIff (R-Richfield), a retired judge, for speaking out on the House floor against this blatant effort to restrict your access to the courts: kaymciff@utah.gov, Cell (801) 608−4331

See how your representative voted here:http://healutah.org/legislativerecap09/hb379

Passed: Joint Resolution Supporting Nuclear Power (SJR 16)
Despite a vast outpouring of public opposition at a senate committee hearing, this resolution disappointingly passed both House and Senate with large majorities. The resolution does not carry much weight, but is again a troubling gauge of our legislature’s understanding of the realities of nuclear power.

Click here to see how your legislators voted on this measure: http://healutah.org/legislativerecap09/SJR16

Failed: The EnergySolutions Legislative Buy Off Attempt
Despite the millions it spent on TV ads, campaign contributions, and lobbying, EnergySolutions’ attempt to offer the state cash for the right to import foreign nuclear waste failed. The public outcry was too much for the legislature to stomach and, an actual bill never materialized. Thank you to everyone who called, emailed, and attended the “Utah is NOT for sale!” rally.

No Action: Nuclear Power Distribution and Generation (SB 42 & HB 440)
With a nuclear power plan materializing on the Green River, we had hoped this would be the year for an honest debate about the cost to Utahns of such a plan and what to do with the waste. Sen. Scott McCoy’s and Rep. Jay Seegmiller’s bills would have required nuclear power in Utah to be affordable to Utah ratepayers and have a disposal plan for the high-level waste. Regrettably, legislative power brokers were determined to give a free pass to former legislator/nuclear power developer Aaron Tilton and both bills were bottled up in House and Senate rules committees, never to see the light of day.  We wil continue to work hard througout the year to see that these issues are raised next session.

Filed under: Nuclear | Leave a Comment »

The Legislative Session Ends…..We continue.

Posted on March 13, 2009 by deesings

The 2009 Utah Legislature may have ended, but Utah Legislative Watch intends to continue posting about the activities of our Legislators and issues that would be impacted by state and federal legislation.

Between Legislative sessions there are also committee meetings and special sessions.

Please keep visiting Utah Legislature Watch for continued postings!

Filed under: Utah Legislature | Leave a Comment »

Something wrong with this picture

Posted on March 12, 2009 by deesings

The highest media attention is being given to historical legislation on liquor law reform.  While reform is not to be diminished in this area, there is something wrong with this picture.

While our legislators spend our tax dollars and time deciding how to reform Utah’s [albeit] draconian liquor laws, there are still people in our state going without access to medical care, health insurance (including dental), subsidized daycare for low income workers, and access to housing – to name a few services that are being compromised.

When will Utah lawmakers get their priorities straight?

Filed under: Liquor Laws | Leave a Comment »

Waddoups and Buttars – the connection

Posted on March 12, 2009 by deesings

There has been a recent theme around the blogosphere about the connection between Senators Waddoups and Buttars.  Chris Buttars has made a mockery of the Utah Legislature with his constant barrage of moronic statements.

Here is a link to an audio of Senate President Waddoups’ press conference announcing his removal of Buttars from the Judicial Committee  He clearly states that this is not a “punishment” and that he defends Buttars’ right to say whatever he wants, even though his statements may be “distractions” to the work of the Legislature.  He also made it clear that he and Buttars have strong opinions about certain issues.

Is there an agenda here?

Filed under: Chris Buttars, Equality, Legislators, Utah Legislature, transparency | Leave a Comment »

The truth about Buttars

Posted on March 12, 2009 by deesings

How Chris Buttars keeps getting voted into office will always be a mystery to me.

Today I discovered Seed, a blog with a post by Ed Brayton about Chris Buttars and the Utah Boys Ranch – and how he used his political position as a scare tactic to teens.

The first person I met in Utah was Senator Chris Buttars. I had no idea who he was until that point.

All I knew was that he was to be feared, and I was scared to death of him from the moment I first saw him.

“Sit down,” he squawked in a loud, high pitched, galling voice that sounded like a cross between a buzzard and an old cowboy. He continued to make it very clear that I was at his mercy. He told me who he was – politically – and the influence he had. If I ever wanted to leave I was to do what he said. “How old are you?”

“Fifteen,” I mumbled.

“Three years might not be enough for you. I can have a judge order you to be here until you are 21,” he croaked. With that he sent me off to be “changed and put on work crew.”

Read the entire post here.

Filed under: Chris Buttars, Legislators, Utah Legislature | Leave a Comment »

Legislative Wrap

Posted on March 12, 2009 by deesings

Today was the last day of the official Utah Legislature’s sesson for 2009.

Activity today included:

  • finalizing the budget to the tune of about $10.9 billion
  • money to fund the growth in enrollment in public schools
  • taking out the provision to keep the number of charter schools from expanding in the 2010-2011 school year

The budget amount is due in part to the Federal Economic Stimulus package monies.  Utah lawmakers say don’t get used to it – the money won’t be there next year, defending not using the over $400 million rainy day funds this year.

The budge for this year will still see state agencies incurring a 9 percent cut while public education will incur a 5.2 percent cut. No taxes are being raised, but vehicle registration fees will go up by about $20 a car.

Filed under: Utah Legislature, budget | 2 Comments »

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