Remember that small, little, ency-wency $13 million payout to Flatiron/Skanska/Zachry after their failed bid on the I-15 CORE project? I know, it was no big deal, but Representative Julie Fisher (R-Fruit Heights, District 17) seems to think that it was. I know, right? I suppose some of the provisions outlined in HB 34 – Department [...]
Archive for the ‘Taxation and Government Spending’ Category
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 [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 36 – Concealed Firearm Act Amendments, J. Valentine
Well, it looks like today we are talking about guns. What separates this bill from the one discussed previously is that Senator John Valentine (R – Orem, District 14) has produced a long over due bill with SB 36 – Concealed Firearm Act Amendments. It should come as no surprise to anyone that getting a concealed weapons [...]
Bills to Watch: HJR 1 – Joint Resolution Amending State and Local Taxing Authority, C. Wimmer
I was recently alerted to HJR 1 – Joint Resolution Amending State and Local Taxing Authority by none other than the bills sponsor, Representative Carl Wimmer (R – Herriman, District 52). At first blush, I found his description of the resolution rather mundane when he described it to me – I was mildly opposed to it, but not enough to, [...]
Bills to Watch: HB 199 – Advertisements on School Buses, J. Bird
Want to know how bad education funding is? It has gotten to the point that Representative Jim Bird (R-West Jordan, District 42) thinks that the only solution is to put advertisements on school buses. Yes, yes, I know. We couldn’t possibly raise the tax on people with 15 children in the system while I continue to (happily I [...]
Yes on Proposition 1 – Utah Museum of Natural History Project
What is the price of education worth to you? Can you do without that hilarious iPhone app that makes fart noises for another month? How about missing out on supersizing your fries twice? Perhaps you get regular gas for one fill-up. Well that is exactly what Proposition 1 is asking you to pony up a whopping $2.40 [...]
I am the face of modern unemployment
I constantly hear those on the Right complain about the freeloaders and moochers who use the system to avoid actually working. Well, to all the commentators out there, let me explain my story in brief in a feeble attempt to break your close-mindedness. I am: White Male Middle Class College Educated In debt because of [...]
How to Reduce Utah’s Budget – Drop Legislative Research
I do believe that I have come up with a true cost cutter for the state of Utah – eliminate the Office of Legislative Research and General Council as it is clearly an office that is not used by wise and insightful legislature. For those of you who do not know that LRGC is, don’t [...]
Bills to Watch: HB 217 – Income Tax Revisions, C. Wimmer
I swear, I did not set out to pick apart Carl Wimmer (R-Herriman-District 52) during this legislative session, it just seems to me that he is one of the worst legislators when it comes to drafting sound policy. I direct your attention to HB 217 – Income Tax Revisions. I want you all to think [...]
Bills to Watch: HB 196 – Tobacco Tax Revisions, P. Ray
This time last year, I was complaining about Representative Paul Ray’s (R-Clearfield-District 13) attempt to raise taxes on tobacco in the state. Well, I am back to complain again. Now, to be fair, Ray’s bill, HB 196 – Tobacco Tax Revisions, is a more toned down version of last years bill. This does not mean, [...]