So here is my official, unofficial list of the ten worst bills to come out of the legislative session. More discussion coming soon! 10) HB187 – Agricultural Interference Bill by Rep John Mathis (R-Vernal) – This is the bill that caused, once again, national head scratching over the bizarre antics of the Republicans in the Utah State [...]
Archive for the ‘2012 Legislature’ Category
What do Utah Republicans have Against our Military?
I am shocked and saddened by the recent statements made by two members of the Republican Caucus of the Utah Senate. By now, you may have seen the Senate Majority Leader, Scot Jenkins, outburst on the outlandish thought of exempting military personnel from having to pay property taxes while serving on active duty (click here for [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 116, Armed Forces Property Tax Exemption, Sen. Luz Robles
We as a society love to say how much we support our troops, but it is rare that policy makers actually step up to the plate and say “thank you, we are going to make your life a little bit easier because you have decided to protect our nation.” That is why I applaud Senator [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 249, Firearm Possession Amendments, Sen. Mark Madsen
It always astounds me how much hot air comes out of the legislature every year about how grand the Constitution is and how we must uphold the document as a sacred text…unless there is something in there that happens to disagree with the legislature, that is. Take, for example SB 249, Firearm Possession Amendments as [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 156, Elected Official Retirement Benefits Amendments, Sen. John Valentine
One issue that has always mildly bugged me has been that lawmakers receive retirement benefits similar to long term state employees if they simply put in enough years at the state legislature. Currently, if a lawmaker manages to stick it out for ten years, they receive the same benefits as a full-time state employee may receive after [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 33 – Trespassing on State Lands, Sen. Margaret Dayton
Over the past year, there have been numerous anti-government protests across the nation, and though I have been highly critical of some of the movements, I none the less support the right for them to petition their government. Well, it appears that Senator Margaret Dayton (R – Orem – District 15) doesn’t feel the same way. Her [...]
Bills to Watch: SJR 11, Joint Resolution – Informal Poll on United States Senate Candidates, Sen. Casey Anderson
So, I am just going to say it now and get it out of the way, watching Senator Casey Anderson (R-Cedar City, District 28) propose legislation is a bit like watching clowns continually come out of a car labeled “mind numbingly bad.” Just for kicks, you could even add the word “Express.” I have already told you Anderson’s brilliant idea to [...]
Bills to Watch: HB 274, Adoption Amendments, Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck
I don’t want you all to think that I am biased towards Representative Rebecca Chavez-Houck (D – Salt Lake, District 24) simply because she happens to have ranked number 1 last year for best representing my interests…or because she just so happens to be my actual representative on the hill; but the honest truth is, I am [...]
Bills to Watch: HB 124, In-State Tuition for Veterans, Rep. Curtis Oda
It is rare when I agree with Representative Curtis (R – Clearfield, District 14); so on those rare occasions that I do, I feel it is worth noting. With HB 124, In-State Tuition for Veterans, Oda is saying in no uncertain terms, thank you, to the men and women who serve (or have honorably served) our country by offering [...]
Bills to Watch: HB 285, Repeal of Higher Education Tuition Assistance Program, Rep. Steve Eliason
There is always a cute dance that takes place at the start of every legislative session, where we get to see just how mean, crazy, out of touch, or (gasp dare I say it?) reasonable newly elected or appointed legislators are. Well, I am sorry to say that Representative Steve Eliason (R-Sandy, District 45) appears [...]