Rep. Chris Herrod asks, "Will this [Bill] make their trip to California longer?"

From The Sausage Grinder by Joe Pyrah:

The debate about banning smoking in cars when children are present is a couple of years old now. But yesterday's House floor discussion may well be the most surreal yet. Specifically, the back and forth between Provo's Chris Herrod and bill sponsor Jay Seegmiller. I'm posting the transcript because nothing I can write will do this thing justice:

Herrod: I'm just wondering what do you anticipate people that are addicted to cigarettes, do you think they'll just not drive? What do you think ... How do you think this will change their behavior?

Seegmiller: What we're asking is not ... we're not telling people they can't smoke in their car, what we're asking is when they have their children in their in a car, or when a babysitter has a child in a car, to not smoke while they are driving that car. If they do get a tremendous urge to smoke, just pull over and step out for a minute. That's a small inconvenience to protect the health and well-being of children.

Herrod: And I guess I would ask ... I guess my follow up question is ... Is it more dangerous for a car to be on the side of the road, pulled off to the side of the road or is it more dangerous for a child to be smoking ... or be in a car where a parent is smoking?


Seegmiller: Obviously you would hope that someone would pull over some place where it is safe.

Herrod: But do you think that will be the actual behavior?


Seegmiller: I don't understand the question.

Herrod: Will they actually pull off simply to the side of the road where we know that a significant portion of our accidents, and actually our deadly accidents are accidents where a parked car on the side of the road is actually hit? Or do you think they are automatically going to pull off to a safe spot? If they're in the middle ... there are some sections of the freeway where there are 20 miles between exits. If they have an urge to smoke do you think they'll wait for the next exit or will they just pull over to the side of the road?

Seegmiller: I can't answer that. I don't know how people will look at that.


Herrod: I guess I would ask the next question would be ... are you fearful at all that this will cause some parents maybe to leave their children at home just because they are gonna have a quick trip to the store and leave their kids, at home, unattended.


Seegmiller: No.


Herrod: See, here's the problem that we have: Do you think this will extend a trip of somebody that is going to California or going through the state? Will this make their trip to California longer?

Seegmiller: I suppose it could.

Herrod: K. And statistically one of the major reasons for car accidents is drowsiness, so if you extend a trip you've actually increased the chances of an accident. Here's the problem that we have with this body. Is many times this body has well-intended reasons, but there's unintended consequences. And since we can't answer whether it's safer for a car to be pulled off the side of the road or safer to be in a car with somebody smoking ... until those answers, those questions can be answered, I don't know if necessarily if we believe ... if we actually know if it is gonna be safer. I would strongly encourage you to not vote for this bill just because those questions haven't been asked, and I am concerned that I don't believe this will necessarily make it safer for any child.

So there it is!  Protecting children form second hand smoke in motor vehicles isn't the issue.  The issue is this bill could make a smoker's drive to California longer if they have children in the car.

More: One Utah: Courtesy of Chris Herrod, A Whole New Flavor of Crazy Comes to the Legislature

PARTY LINES: Should there be a ‘John Browning’ holiday in Utah? By Rob Miller, Utah Democrat

At some point in our lives, almost every American has wanted to effect political change in the system. Whether it was to enact a new law, or to amend the Constitution, courageous individuals have come forward to lead the effort to bring about change in order to right a wrong or to extent civil rights and liberties to all citizens of our great nation. These individuals have endured hatred and bigotry and have been reviled for their audacity in denouncing racism, sexism, and religious prejudice.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the foremost leaders in the struggle to achieve civil rights and political equality in our society, and he gave his life in pursuit of the dream of racial equality. He did not seek change through violence, but by using the political process to end discrimination in education, housing, and employment. He fought against segregation, realizing that separate and unequal societies could not continue to exist without ultimately bringing us into armed and violent conflict.

Dr. King taught tolerance and acceptance of the views of others. He used peaceful protests and non-violence resistance to soften the hardest heart among his adversaries. For the poor and downtrodden among us, he brought hope of educational opportunities and worthwhile employment from which men and women could rise up to fulfill their dreams – not only for themselves, but for generations to come.

Today, we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for the light he placed upon the mountain to guide us to a fairer, more just society with equality of opportunity for all. This day of respect and commemoration should be a time for us to reflect upon and renew our commitment to peace, harmony, equality, and justice.

Recently, however, Sen. Mark Madsen has suggested that we join this celebration of the life of Dr. King with the celebration of the life of John Browning. Although the contributions of Mr. Browning to our state and our nation are great, I respectfully but vehemently disagree, that a holiday celebrating Mr. Browning should be lumped in with Martin Luther King, Jr, Day.

I have no problem with Sen. Madsen’s desire to celebrate Mr. Browning’s accomplishments, but as columnist Paul Rolly stated, “The Utah Legislature has a contentious history with the holiday honoring King. After President Ronald Reagan signed the legislation creating the federal holiday, bitter debates resulted in a compromise, calling the holiday “Human Rights Day.”

“Utah changed the name to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2000, becoming the last state to do so.”

Dr. King taught our nation so much that remains with us to this very day. He showed us that we could overcome being a victim without becoming a tormentor. He showed us that the love of God could overcome the weakness of men, and that we could bring the peace and love of God into the world. And most of all, he taught us how to more fully pursue our unique American dream as one nation, united in common purpose regardless of our differences. Today, more than 40 years after his untimely passing, Dr. King stands as one of our country’s greatest heroes, and he deserves to be honored as such.

PARTY LINES: Should there be a ‘John Browning’ holiday in Utah? By Todd Weiler, Republican

 

Like most Americans, I enjoy a good holiday. Especially those of the three-day weekend variety. Last week, Sen. Mark Madsen briefly vetted a proposal to have the state commemorate gun-maker John Browning on Martin Luther King Day. Madsen’s proposal didn’t exactly get off the ground. (It was a lead balloon.)

Even a legislature that has never quite embraced the civil rights holiday thought it was a dumb idea. Utah finished 50th in the race to name a state holiday after King, after initially snubbing him in favor of a generic Human Rights Day. After finally relenting in 2000, the Legislature began its work on the holiday each year.

Madsen’s idea to honor a gun maker in conjunction with King was in poor taste considering the civil rights leader was shot and killed by an assassin. In his defense, Madsen thought Browning would be a good fit since he was born in January and his automatic pistol design helped America win World War I.

Not quite ready to let this one go, Madsen said that since the Brownings were Mormon pioneers, he will consider July 24th for a joint celebration. In our current political climate, I would not support any legislation to create a state holiday to honor Browning.

At the risk of being labeled a racist, I will admit that it has always struck me as odd that our former presidents collectively share one single holiday — while King has been awarded his own.

As significant as the civil rights movement is, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, Truman, Kennedy, Reagan, etc. have each respectively merited less than 3 percent of President’s Day.

Although King was far from perfect (like the rest of us), he has become a symbol of something much greater than any single life. In a very real sense, MLK Day has become a part of this nation’s penitence of its past sins.

But I have to admit that Madsen has got me thinking. Who else deserves a holiday? As I type this column on my computer, I am thinking that “Bill Gates Day” has a nice ring. But that wouldn’t be fair to the iPod or the iPhone, would it?

More close to home, maybe we could celebrate Philo Farnsworth on Superbowl Sunday? How ‘bout an Eliza R. Snow Day whenever school is cancelled after a big storm.

Larry Miller and Steve Young could be candidates. What about an “Osmond Day” to correspond with each season premier of American Idol? OK, that may be stretching it a bit far.

I have never been a fan of the so-called message bills.

In these trying times, we need our elected officials to focus on what matters most: balancing the budget, educating our children, and developing the economy.

Really?

FOX 13 News

2:54 PM MST, February 16, 2010
SALT LAKE CITY - A bill that proposes the elimination of affirmative action from the Utah constitution has been put on hold Tuesday after going through the House. The resolution will prevent local government agencies, state agencies and public colleges from discriminating or providing any kind of preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. The bill already passed through the legislative committee, but was circled on the house floor.

Rep. Curtis Oda (R), the proposer of the bill, is confident that it will come up again and will pass through the legislature. He said he is making some modifications, but a majority of the people he has directly heard from support the bill.

"Everything I'm hearing has been positive," said Rep. Oda. "I have not gotten one negative e-mail or phone call."

Several opponents did show up at the Capitol to plead their case and share their concerns about the bill. The bill may also require a constitutional amendment to make it enforceable.

First thought:  Why didn't Fox interview Democratic Minority Leader David Litvack or anyone else who might oppose this bill?  

Second thought:  I didn't know that  affirmative action was actually practiced in Utah. 

Third thought: Focusing on convention day delegate antics isn't helping the Utah residents who are counting on you.   

News Release: Granato Hails Recovery Act Success, Calls Out Bennett's Hypocrisy

Granato Hails Recovery Act Success,
Calls Out Bennett's Hypocrisy

SALT LAKE CITY – U.S. Senate candidate Sam Granato will join with Americans everywhere Wednesday in commemorating the one-year anniversary of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“The Recovery Act helped to pull our country back from the brink of a full-scale economic collapse,” Granato said. “It has saved or created nearly two million jobs, provided a tax cut for 95 percent of America’s working families, and made crucial investments in clean energy technology and our country’s infrastructure. Without these important first steps toward economic resurgence, we would likely be facing down another Great Depression with little hope of recovery on the horizon. Millions of Americans are better off today because of the Recovery Act’s success.”

Granato also called out incumbent Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, for attempting to score political points by opposing the legislation.

The Washington Times recently reported Bennett secretly lobbied for hundreds of thousands of federal stimulus dollars behind closed doors, even while he voted against the bill’s passage and opposed it publicly. He later touted Recovery Act funding for Central Utah Water as an example of how he had personally worked to get money for “Utah projects that would create jobs.” Granato believes Utahns deserve more honesty and principled leadership from their representatives in Washington.

“Bob Bennett’s rhetoric doesn’t match reality,” he said. “He knew the Recovery Act would work when he voted against it last year, but he was more worried about toeing the party line than solving America’s problems. Now he’s trying to claim credit for the success of a bill he voted against just a year ago. He can’t have it both ways. This is blatant hypocrisy and the people of Utah deserve a senator who means what he says and stands by his principles.”

Though the Recovery Act has helped many Utah families weather the economic storm over the past year, Granato said he believes much work remains to truly move the country toward a robust recovery.

“People are still hurting and they need help,” he said. “While the Recovery Act has undoubtedly helped limit job losses, the unemployment rate remains unacceptably high. I’ve always believed the talent and determination of the American worker provided the engine for our economic growth. It’s time for Washington to put aside partisan bickering and ideological nonsense, and instead find common sense solutions to put our greatest assets back to work and propel the United States toward a brighter, more prosperous future. I plan to work tirelessly toward that end as Utah’s next senator.”

###

In honor of the Olympics meet my brother-in-law and Worldwide Hula Champ, Utahn Jeff Freeman

Note: A few days after this video was made Mr. Freeman won his 13th consecutive Hula Championship. Mr. Freeman is now working diligently to have the Olympics include Hula in 2020.

Another note: It is rumored that several candidates including U.S. Senate Candidate Sam Granato are seeking Mr. Freeman's endorsement to hopefully bring the Hula Community into the 2010 election cycle.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Former Congressman Charlie Wilson dead at 76

News Flash: How do you really feel, Senator?

This just in... Utah Senate Republicans call Utah's Public employees "ridiculous."




Click here to read the whole story.

See the difference Between Sam Granato and Bob Bennett concerning the importation of foreign nuclear waste

There's a big difference between Utah's Democratic candidate for United States Senate Sam Granato and incumbent Bob Bennett concerning the importation of foreign radioactive waste for permanent storage in Utah and the United States.  

Watch the video and see the difference.

VoteForGranato.com

Give it back

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon to Gov. Gary Herbert: Return money

SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Gary Herbert has been challenged by his presumptive Democratic opponent to return a $10,000 campaign donation to a coal company that got a fast-track decision from state regulators on a strip mine.

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