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Some Utah Legislators want to approve the development of a nuclear plant in Green River. Everyone should be following the unfolding events of Fukushima with regards to the nuclear reactors there as a result of the devastating earthquake and tsunami. This should serve as a “wake up call” to advocates of nuclear energy development.
Join the continuing discussion on our Facebook page.
Filed under: Energy, Environment, Health, Legislators, Nuclear, Utah Legislature, Waste | 1 Comment »
With the Medicaid budget growing from $0.8 billion in 1999 to $1.8 billion in 2009 (with no slowing on the horizon), it is our desire to ensure professional, prudent stewardship over the use of all funds. The Medicaid program is large and has many participants, therefore, coordination can be lost and some regulations may be unnecessarily cumbersome. It is important for us to ensure that the money in this program goes toward providing high quality service for real identified needs in an efficient manner.We are interested in any and all ideas for improving Medicaid in the State of Utah. Please do not limit yourself to what is currently allowed by federal or state law as changes can be proposed to both. In your professional opinion, what areas of Medicaid could be improved? As you consider your responses, please keep in mind the following points:
- Since state funds are being used, some level of oversight is likely necessary
- Money does not exist to fund every need for everyone
- We want to reward and encourage positive health outcomes for clients
David Clark Michael Waddoups
Speaker of the House President of the Senateof Representatives
Filed under: Health, Medicaid, Utah Legislature | 2 Comments »
Utah’s legislators are about to set the stage for placing a tax on tobacco products. 
But what about considering increasing taxes on all “vices”?
HB196 Tobacco Tax Revisions aims to increase the tax rates “on the
sale, use, storage, or distribution of tobacco products in the state for the 2010-11 fiscal year and allowing the rates to fluctuate in subsequent fiscal years”.
SB40 Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Amendments aims to
“increase the tax on cigarettes, moist snuff, and other tobacco products; deposit income from the permanent state trust fund into the General Fund; and
address the deposit of revenues collected from the taxes; make technical and conforming changes”.
HB71 Nicotine Product Restrictions “amends provisions of the Uniform Driver License Act, provisions relating to the state system of public education, the Utah Criminal Code, and the Utah Code of Criminal Procedure to place restrictions on the provision, obtaining, and possession of a nicotine product and to enforce these restrictions”. Specifically, the bill is aimed to prevent the sale of nicotine laced candy and gum (not including smoking cessation products) in Utah, the products of which are currently not available in the state.
The sponsor of HB71, Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, has been the target by tobacco companies for possible court action should the bill pass, according to a Deseret News Article.
“Now they need to try to keep going by doping candy with the most addictive and deadly substance in tobacco,” he said. “Utah has made a point of protecting our youth from the hazards of tobacco use, and now that they are targeting a new market with lozenges and mints, we think that’s going to far.”
Read the rest of the article here.
In his piece in the Deseret News, Tobacco tax to hit those who can least afford it Lee Benson shares his encounter with folks addicted to tobacco who, despite raising taxes on the products and thus the consideration to stop the addiction, still are not able to stop.
“I know smoking’s not healthy,” he[patron at tobacco shop] says. “But every time I stop smoking, I gain weight — so I have to decide, am I going to die from obesity or from smoking?”
Smokers, he says, are a “scapegoat” for taxation.
“Nine percent of taxpayers smoke. Out of that 9 percent, they’re trying to take care of the majority. It isn’t fair. But what can you do?”
Benson interviews Sy Pham, a tobacco wholesaler, who complains of the disparity between citizens actually paying for the tax increase: (more…)
Filed under: budget, Health, health care, taxes, Utah Legislature, Vice taxes | 4 Comments »
The Feds vs. the States – Governor Herbert addresses this issue in the video below.
The overarching question: Will all people receive health care…..all?
Filed under: Health, health care, Human rights, Utah Legislature | Leave a Comment »
The Disabled Rights Action Committee (DRAC) and the Anti-Hunger Action Committee (AHAC) have together organized a rally at the Utah Capitol for Tuesday to confront legislators on the HB67 Substitute Health System Amendments in advocacy for the rights to adequate and equitable health care for all, particularly addressing the current crisis of those who are without insurance. This announcement was recently distributed via Facebook (links to organizations and the bill added by this post’s author):
Utah Legislature Action/Press Conference
Whereas the legislature continues to deny that there is a health care crisis we need to set the record straight!
Whereas the State of Utah, embodied in State Representative Carl Wimmer’s HB 67 bill continues to deny that there is a health care crisis in Utah and
Whereas Representative Wimmer asserts in HB 67 that Utah has embarked on… health system reform, that the health system reform efforts for the state … address the unique
circumstances within Utah and to provide solutions that work for Utah and that Utah is a leader in the nation for health system reform, andWhereas on February 23 Families USA will be releasing a report detailing the number of uninsured Utahns who will die from untreated illnesses as a direct result of their uninsured status,
Now comes the Disabled Rights Action Committee (DRAC) and the Anti-Hunger Action Committee (AHAC) to ask why, in light of the above assertions, dental, vision, physical and other critical aspects of health care have been cut from Medicaid, to ask why critical health care has been cut from children and to ask why consideration is being given to further cutting back on Medicaid eligibility, further increasing the roles of Utah’s uninsured, and
To set the record straight that there is a heath care crisis in Utah—any needless death or suffering is a crisis.
Join us February 23, 2010 at 1:30 PM in the State Capitol Cafeteria to ask why our legislature insists on denying the existence of a health care crisis in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary while continuing to engage in actions that worsen the health care crisis.
Filed under: Advocacy Groups, Citizen involvement, Health, health care, Human rights, Utah Legislature | 1 Comment »
The big news of Utah’s Legislators yesterday was the passage of HB12 Criminal Homicide and Abortion, which will make women criminally liable for intentional miscarriages. The subjective nature of the bill brings potential harm to women in this state.
Planned Parenthood of Utah, in its memo sent out yesterday after the vote, stated that:
During the floor debate, both Senator Margaret Dayton and Representative Wimmer refused to support an amendment that would provide protections for victims of domestic violence! The bill is now going to the House of Representatives for the signature of the Speaker and will then move to the Governor for his signature.
The refusal to support the proposed amendments leaves the door open for women who have natural miscarriages or miscarriage due to domestic violence open for prosecution. The bill is punitive in nature and provides no practical options to prevent or to assist women with unintended pregnancies.
Another abortion bill, HB200 Informed Consent has passed the Utah House and is currently before the Senate. This bill is aimed at requiring clinics to give a detailed description of the ultrasound images if the woman seeking an abortion asks for the information (which, by the way, woman can already do….). See post on that bill here.
Filed under: Health, Reproductive Rights, Utah Legislature | Leave a Comment »
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