In a challenging year for budgets, the legislature decided to make continued cuts rather than even consider the thought of raising taxes. This suborn approach to addressing the budget created some interesting results. The first point that should be made is that education did, in fact, see a slight budget increase; but the reality was [...]
Archive for the ‘Utah State Legislature’ Category
Final Status of Bills to Watch – 2011
Now that all is said and done, it is safe to say that they did not listen to what we said and will do what they feel must be done. Here is a breakdown of the final status of the bills Blue in Red Zion tracked over the past three months – We heard about [...]
Status of Bills to Watch – The Final Countdown
With only a few days left in the session, we are starting to see some interesting moving and shaking as lawmakers work frantically to get their bills passed. Here is what we are currently seeing. Breakdown of Bills: Bill Status Possibility of Being Law Really alive? HB 11 – Inmate Health Insurance Amendments Second Reading [...]
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: HB 399 – Environmental Litigation Bond, M. Noel
Two years ago, Representative Mike Noel (R – Kanab, District 73) proposed HB 379, that copies word for word this years HB 399 – Environmental Litigation Bond sans an amendment that was made on the floor of the House that actually made the original bill even more harmful to those who wish to challenge any environmental finding. [...]
Status of Bills to Watch
As one of my readers was kind enough to point out to be, I have not actually been updating you on the status of the various bills I have been writing about. With less than two weeks to go, it is probably best to update y’all. I also wanted to add some clarification, I have [...]
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: SB 243 – Historic Areas or Sites Amendments, W. Niederhauser
In what appears to be an ongoing theme of hypocrisy this legislative session I present to you SB 243 – Historic Areas or Sites Amendments as proposed by Senator Wayne Niederhauser (R – Sandy, District 9). I know you may be shocked at this, but let me explain. You know how Republicans have been hooting [...]
Bills to Watch: SB 138 – Driver License Qualification Amendments, S. Urquhart
I am truly bothered by the hypocrisy many on the right have towards illegal immigration – and their inability to think through the rhetoric they often spew. Often, they complain that we make it “too easy” to enter the country and that we incentivize people to come here. This argument came up during the initial discussion of driver privilege cards a few years [...]
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 [...]