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 [...]
Archive for the ‘Education’ Category
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 [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 117 – Publication of Education Fund Revenue Reductions, Sen. Ben McAdams
Senator Ben McAdams (D-Salt Lake City, District 2) is taking charge and working hard to hold legislators accountable with SB 117 – Publication of Education Fund Revenue Reductions. The bill is very straight forward, but will have big ramifications by holding lawmakers feet to the fire. The bill, in short, would require any bill that negativity effects [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 31, Classroom Size Amendments, Sen. Karen Morgan
I must admit that I was impressed when I saw that Senator Karen Morgan (D – Salt Lake –District 8) proposed SB 31, Classroom Size Amendments. It is short, it is sweet, and it cuts to the very core of one of the principal problems with Utah schools: large class sizes. Morgan is proposing that there [...]
Bills to Watch: SJR 5, Joint Resolution on Education, Sen. Stewart Reid
Like a shuffling zombie, Senator Stewart Reid (R – Ogden,District 18) is bringing back from the dead last years awful resolution that attempts to change the Utah Constitution so that the Governor, rather than the State Board of Education, controls the supervision of our public education system. Yes, the only thing that Reid changed this year was the title: SJR 5, Joint Resolution on Education [...]
Legislative Wrap Up: Part IV – Education
It is a sad state of affairs when the best we can boast regarding education in the State of Utah is that we were able to hold the line on education funding; but that is exactly the case. What makes it even sadder is that this is actually an improvement. We must acknowledge, however, that [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 224 – Partisan School Board Elections, H. Stephenson
It must be throwback day here at Blue in Red Zion, after all, the topic today seems to be the resurrection of bad bills. Well, Senator Howard Stephenson (R – Draper, District 11) is continuing the trend by proposing SB 224 – Partisan School Board Elections – a bill that mimics Senator Curt Bramble’s from 2007. As a bit [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 69 – Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Textbooks for Higher Education, K. Mayne
We all know the price of college is not getting any lower, and the burden for these costs are often placed on students who’s caloric intake on any given week consists of ramen noodles and whatever was left over from when they crashed the underwater basket-weaving clubs meeting in hopes of getting a sweet, sweet slice of free pizza [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 65 – Statewide Online Education Program, H. Stephenson
Senator Howard Stephenson (R – Draper, District 11) has rightly taken a lot of heat lately about his statements saying that state universities give away “degrees to nowhere.” Although it is concerning that a public official feels this way about higher education, I must admit that I am very pleased to see the same senator propose SB [...]
Bills to Watch: SJR 9 – Joint Resolution – Governance of Public and Higher Education, S. Reid
It is rare that both MRW and I agree so strongly on public policy, but when we both have such a visceral reaction to a policy like we did when I told her about SJR 9 – Joint Resolution – Governance of Public and Higher Education as proposed by Senator Stuart Reid (R – Ogden, District 18). [...]