THE UTAH AMICUS

Phil Riesen
Candidate Announcement Speech
House District 36

Phil Riesen made his run for House Seat 36 official today in the House/Senate building lobby in front of a enthusiastic crowd of supporters and legislators.

At my request Phil has provided a copy of announcement speech. Enjoy his speech and enjoy the photos from Phil's event.

I have always believed that in its finest, most productive form, the political process should be a "healthy exchange of ideas" between honorable men and women with different political views.
It's also my belief that the end result of the debate should be the preservation and enhancement of a society that cares about and helps one another more than it hurts and divides. But, from what I see today, the process in Utah has broken down. It has become a one-sided discussion (and only one hand clapping doesn't make much productive noise).

What was at one time a productive and respectful two-party system in Utah has eroded into "secretive", often "rude", and occasionally "arrogant partisan politics".

I want to help return the Utah Legislature to a body of men and women acting with civility, respect, and tolerance. Not only for one another, but more particularity for you and the individual beliefs each of us has. We don't all believe the same thing, or in the same way, but each person's beliefs must be respected in a free society. It is time to bring civility, common sense, and statesman-like behavior back to your state government and as I have stated, "I want to be a part of that change."

It is for this and other reasons that I am announcing today my intention to enter the race as a Democratic Candidate for House District 36 of the Utah State Legislature.

Her are some of my legislative priorities:

(1) Adequate, fully funded, meaningful education is at the top of the list. Let's stop giving lip-service and Band-aid approaches to the problems facing education. Lets start listening to and acting to fill the needs of our educators who struggle daily with low salaries, huge class sizes, and inadequate school supplies. We can and we must do much better than last place in teacher's salaries and per pupil spending. We need to fix and fully fund education now, not later.

(2) The legislature needs to quit talking about why it won't work and find a way to do away with the out-dated, regressive sales tax on food. It hurts our most vulnerable, our low income and elderly citizens on fixed incomes. The public is demanding it.

(3) Lobbyist are paid a lot of money by the organizations they represent to influence how and what legislators think about an issue. That's part of the legislative process; but let's keep the process open, above board, and completely transparent, not hidden or clouded with suspicion. That's something else the public is demanding...Honesty and open government.

We need Legislative reform that will stop gifts of any size to elected officials unless those gifts are fully and publicly disclosed. A person shouldn't be in political office for what they can get away with.

Utah legislators must start listening again to the voices of those who elect them instead of the needs and wants of special interest that finance their campaigns.

For more than 30 years you trusted me to be your eyes and ears and report to you events that impacted your lives. I'm asking the voters of district 36 to trust me now to be their voice. My greatest desire in this process is to give voice to your concerns and your needs in an arena too often dominated dominated by only one voice.

In this ongoing process of listening to and learning from one another over the next few months, you and I may not always agree completely on issues...But I promise you this...I will always listen to you with an open mind, and I will try to respectfully represent your concerns in the Utah House.

You will be my only special interest.

You deserve better government.....We all do.

It's time we begin electing members of the legislature who are about doing the people's business again. You deserve no less.