THE UTAH AMICUS: Utah Legislature 2007

Showing posts with label Utah Legislature 2007. Show all posts

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Voucher Vote is a question for General Election--not for Presidential Primary Election

At every turn the Utah Republican Legislature, Governor Huntsman, and Lt. Governor Gary Herbert have tried to squeeze the system to ram an unpopular and class segregationist program on the people of Utah. First, it was Speaker Curtis' arm-twisting in the legislature and the Governor's complicity with Parent's for Choice--the Amway and Walmart heirs. Then it was the gaffe from Gary Herbert's office when they tried to intervene in the voucher referendum procedure with hyper-technical and legally wrong scrutiny of the notary stamp color on the original Petition for Referendum. Now, rumors are circling that they want to skip the municipal elections and have the up or down voucher vote during the February, 2008 Presidential Primary. Why? Because they want every political advantage in circumventing the political process. Instead of having the vote during a general election during the municipal elections in fall of 2007 or during the general election of 2008, they want to hold the final question on vouchers at the same time as a national primary.

The Presidential Primary is geared toward national issues and partisan questions. It is not an election designed for final general and local questions, but national partisan questions. It is time for Governor Huntsman to stand up and let every voter--Republican, Democrat and Independent to resolve the local general question of vouchers during a general election--not during an election deciding a national partisan question.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Speaking of Richard...

Read Richard Watson's Legislative Wrap Up

Another Legislative session is over. I have to admit, this year’s session was different t

han most of the past sessions we have had in recent memory. Unsurprising was the typical “back-slapping” gestures made by the Republican controlled Legislature at the end of the session. Republican lawmakers feel that they have given the state the best budget ever with more spending and with more tax cuts given.

Yes, they have done more than expected, but, it still was not enough to catch up with the rest of the country in taking care of public education. Yes, they are not perfect, but at the same time, Republican lawmakers still feel as if they know more than we do.

For instance, the increase in education funding was needed and appreciated, but more needs to be done. Because of the 20 years of neglect by our Republican led Legislature, we are still at the bottom of the country in per-pupil spending. Instead of a 4 percent increase, lawmakers should have given at least a 10 percent increase. Teacher salaries should have had at least $10,000 increase to even be close to our neighboring states in teacher compensation.

And of course, vouchers will undoubtedly change public schools for the worst. Vouchers were never about choice, it was about money and power for a few of the affluent. Public Education funding will have to be increased every year for the next several years to make any difference and a one-time funding increase is not the answer. Republican lawmakers remind me of a story from one of the Blue Collar comedians when he bought jewelry for his wife because “that will shut her up…for a minute.” Yes, one-time spending on education should “shut-up” those teachers.

Other bills and issues were also dropped by the time the session ended as many bills were not discussed or voted on.

Many Utahns are scratching their heads as to why lawmakers did not address many of the issues Utahns care about.

Here are some of the bills and issues missed:

— SB155, the Energy Solutions Bill, gave the company more space to expand without government oversight. The Legislature and the Governor ignored the voice of the people.

— Sitting on their hands, the Republican Legislature failed to fund the Veteran’s Nursing Home in Ogden and their excuse was lack of “federal” money. Do Republican lawmakers care about veterans?

— Funding the Real Soccer Stadium ignored the voice of the people.

— More could have been done on health care issues because more and more Utahns are uninsured.

— Ethic reforms. More needs to be done for a transparent government.

Also, Republican lawmakers do not want to discuss the arm twisting and deal making that went on behind closed doors. Leadership passed the bills they wanted and ignored the ones they did not care about.

A Bernard Bailey quote fits our Republican lawmakers best when he said, “When they discover the center of the universe, a lot of people will be disappointed to discover they are not it.”

Friday, March 02, 2007

Tom Barberi Says:

Well the Legislature has folded up their circus tent and left town but they left behind a small dog with one eye and severely burned feet.

While these people were wallowing in cash they also felt the need to continue to harass Gay students and waste time debating an abortion law that was totally useless.

The arguments against making abuse of an animal a felony were stunning. The most useless piece of legislative skin, Chris Butters argued that making the act of putting a little dog in an oven and blinding it with a leaf blower would unduly mark that individual as a felon and he would have to report that on any job applications and also not be allowed to buy a gun. Some 40 other states seem to recognize that such behavior is worthy of felony prosecution.

Another brain trust on this issue was Alan Christensen who said to pass such a law would elevate animals to the status of humans.....HUH! It is idiotic people like these that stains otherwise good things that the Legislature does.

My question is, why do these guys get reelected? If they represent their constituents I don't want to live in their neighborhood. I have a cat that would not appreciate being baked and blinded by a human who is looked upon as just fooling around!