When I first noticed HB 30, Unemployment Insurance Amendments as proposed by Representative Jeremy Peterson (R – Ogden, District 9), I have to admit that I was ready to completely rip into the bill, but after much consideration, I have decided to only point out its many flaws. The long and short of the bill is that [...]
Archive for the ‘Harming the Poor’ Category
Bills to Watch: HB 63, Mobile Home Park Residency Act Amendments, Rep. Janice Fisher
It is an understatement to say that Utah has poor renters rights, placing greater worth on landlords and property owners. In the class of renters, there is an even worse off group of people – those living in mobile homes. State and local laws are so bad that, currently, mobile home renters have no process [...]
When Does it Stop Being “Fiscally Conservative” and Start Being Cruel and Mean?
It should come as no surprise that debates are raging here and across the nation about government spending. Often, conservative law makers point to social programs as the greatest sin against the taxpayer, but we have started to reach a point where reasonable cuts can no longer be made. With Republicans refusing to budge on [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 270 – Modifications to Sales and Use Tax, S. Adams
I find it funny that, during these tough economic times and severe budget cuts, that Republicans still refuse to raise taxes. Thank goodness Senator Stuart Adams (R – Layton, District 22) is willing to make the hard decisions, and tax the lower and middle class. By proposing SB 270 – Modifications to Sales and Use [...]
Bills to Watch: HB 195 – Debt Service Obligations of a Divided School District, K. Sumsion
You may recall the dustup associated with splitting of the Jordan School District and the very painful headaches it caused up and down the chain. One of the biggest problems associated with a split such as this is the question of financial obligations and how to fairly divide divide them in the event of a [...]
You Gonna Eat That?
As clamor continues to rise around the possibility of raising the food tax, one has to wonder why Republicans are eager to reinstate this regressive tax. In an oh so unofficial poll issued by Fox news of “political insiders,” some 68 percent of Republicans (presumably legislators among them) say that they support reinstating the tax, [...]
Bills to Watch: H.B. 126 – Voter Identification for Eletion – B. Daw
Often, when writing for this “bills to watch” series, I sit down and try to figure out the logic behind why the sponsor is proposing a bill. Naturally sometimes I disagree with the ideology behind it but, none the less, I can see where they are coming from. H.B. 126 as proposed by Representative Brad [...]
All’s well that ends well…right?
Many of you may have seen this bumper sticker floating around your city: So this leads me to the question, how low will gas go once Bush leaves the White House on January 20th? The national average right now is around $1.72 and dropping fast, at the current rate of reduction at $1.44 less per [...]
Amendment XXIV
Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to [...]
Um, why have gas prices not gone down?
So I was looking around on gas buddy, because, sadly my scooter is not functioning right now and I have to drop back to the ol’ 35 MPG vehicle. Killing a little time at work, I discovered this little chart: As you can see, the price for gas in Salt Lake, on average, has held [...]