Upcoming Legislation

The 2010 Utah legislative session does not begin until January 25, but legislators have been hard  at work for some time now meeting with constituents, drafting legislation, and attending interim committee meetings.  Several interesting bills are taking shape.  We plan to post several articles from now through the legislative session highlighting various pieces of legislation.  Here are a few issues with which legislators are currently grappling (please note that these bills are in process and have not yet been assigned bill numbers).  Please contact your legislators regarding these or any other legislative issues that concern you:

• Elections, Lobbying, and Campaign Finance Enforcement Commission (Senator Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City) — This bill would create a commission to enforce election, campaign finance and lobbying requirements.  Other legislation addressing campaign finance reform, including limiting campaign contributions, is also expected to make an appearance this session.  Separate legislation to address ethics within the legislature via an independent screening commission is also in the works.

• Assertive Community Mental Health Treatment Pilot Program — (Representative Carol Spackman Moss, D-Salt Lake) — The goal of this bill is to keep the severely mentally ill and those who lack a support system from ending up in jail or in the state hospital (which can cost as much as $40k per person per year).  This bill would create a pilot program for as many as 50 people and would provide a network of doctors, psychiatrist, and social workers who would visit patients in their homes (projected cost would be cut to about $10k per person per year).  Moss ran a similar bill last year that faltered on fiscal concerns.

• Increasing sales tax on Food – Legislators are batting around the idea of raising the sales tax on food, only a couple of years after two cuts (2006 and 2007) reduced the state food sales tax to 1.75%. With the weak economy causing a state budget crisis, watch out for legislators looking for ways to shore up state coffers.  Some legislators want the sales tax on unprepared food to be raised and/or restored to the same rate as the general state sales tax: 4.70% (don’t forget about local and county tax rates which are added on top of the state rate).   This will be a debate worth watching as details unfold.

• Anti-discrimination bill – Representative Christine Johnson (D-Salt Lake City) has told reporters that she plans to run an anti-gay discrimination bill this session, but no legislation is logged yet as ‘in progress’ under her name on the legislature’s website.  However, she has carried similar legislation during the past 2 sessions, so it will be likely to come forward again.  Johnson said the bill will be similar to the Salt Lake City Council’s recently passed anti-discrimination ordinances, which received an endorsement from the LDS church.  Those ordinances will prohibit discrimination against gay and transgender workers, homebuyers and renters.  Legislation would likely include an exemption for churches or small businesses.

Visit the Utah Legislature’s website for a wealth of legislative information.

State GOP Approves Resolution to Oppose Ethics Initiative

When our GOP State Central Committee met this past Saturday, approximately half of the meeting time was devoted to discussing the Government Ethics Reform ballot initiative.  The initiative is sponsored by Utahns for Ethical Government (an ironic name, considering the content of their proposed initiative).

Tucked into this 20-page initiative are several questionable and unconstitutional provisions, including no due process for legislators, legislators are guilty until proven innocent, compromised right to privacy between legislators and their business clients, no checks and balances for the members of the commission and the signatories of the bill, signatories attempting to insert themselves into government operations, and blank-check appropriation of taxpayer money to an ineffectual commission.  We hope all voters will take the time to read and examine this ballot initiative before deciding whether or not to sign the petition to put it on the ballot.

The Utah Republican Party strongly supports ethics in government; however, this initiative is a flawed and dangerous route to take to arrive at the goal of increased government ethics.  Utah legislators have been working diligently on ethics reform and are continuing to make progress; in fact, legislation that has already been passed, and current legislation in the works, will render parts of the ballot initiative void because specific issues have already been (or are currently being) addressed.

At the SCC meeting, Todd Weiler, former party vice-chair and one of the current legal advisors for the state GOP, proposed a resolution opposing the initiative.  After some amending, the Committee voted and the resolution passed with only one dissenting vote. The resolution is as follows:

Resolution Supporting Ethics in Government and Opposing the Utah for ethical government (UEG) initiative

WHEREAS, the Utah Republican Party Platform states: “We demand honesty, integrity, morality, and accountability of our public officials” and further states: “We will work to expose and stop corruption.”;

WHEREAS, the Utah Republican Party supports our republican form of government “by, through, and of the people” through elected representatives who are answerable to the people and who are empowered only by the consent of the governed;

WHEREAS, Utahns for Ethical Government (“UEG”) is collecting signatures in an attempt to place an initiative entitled “Government Ethics Reform” on the ballot;

WHEREAS, among other things, the UEG initiative removes responsibility for ethics in government from the people and their elected representatives, and places it in the hands of an unelected, unaccountable commission;

WHEREAS, the power to judge “the election and qualifications of its members, and [to] punish them for disorderly conduct” is a plenary power that is constitutionally vested in and reserved to each house of the Legislature;

WHEREAS, the Utah Legislature has recently passed House Bill 345 (Lobby Restrictions), House Bill 346 (Campaign Report Amendments), Senate Bill 156 (Gift/Meal Provisions for Public Officials), Senate Bill 162 (Campaign Fund Use), House Joint Resolution 14 (Ethics Training), Senate Joint Resolution 6 (Legislator Communication with Judiciary) and created an Ethics Standing Committee to address ethics reform in Utah; and

WHEREAS, the Utah Legislature shall consider a number of additional bills during the upcoming 2010 legislative session addressing ethical, transparent, and open responsive government.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Utah Republican State Central Committee demands ethical government and supports legislation to improve ethical, transparent, and open responsive government, but opposes the constitutionally flawed UEG initiative entitled “Government Ethics Reform.”

December Central Committee Meeting Rescheduled

Our next Utah County Republican Party Central Committee meeting has been rescheduled for January 21, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. (place TBA). The meeting had previously been scheduled for 12/3.

A motion to postpone the Central Committee meeting until after the holidays was brought before the Executive Committee at its Thursday meeting, and the committee voted to approve the postponement. This decision was made because there have already been 6 Central Committee Meetings this year and one has already been held in the fourth quarter, which satisfies bylaw requirements; additionally, it was felt that time in December should be freed up to avoid conflict with family holiday schedules.  Central Committee members should soon receive a postcard notification outlining the changes.  See you in January!

Senate Health Care Bill Moves Forward

Tonight the Senate narrowly cleared a key hurdle as it voted to move forward debate on its vast 2,074 page  health care bill.   Debate is expected to begin November 30.

The vote was 60-39, with all 58 Democrats and 2 Independent Senators voting to move forward debate, and 39 Republican Senators voting against (Senator Voinovich, R-Ohio, was absent; he skipped the vote in favor of a party marking the 30-year anniversary of his election as Cleveland’s Mayor.  Priorities, you know).

The deal was sealed a few hours before the vote when fence-sitters Senator Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) agreed to move forward with debate.  Senator Landrieu has come under fire for receiving special considerations in the bill; specifically, a $100 million appropriation for states that “during the preceding 7 fiscal years” have been declared a “major disaster area.”  Louisiana is the only qualifying state. Cha-ching, cha-ching, let the cash register ring.

Under the Senate bill, most Americans would be required to carry insurance, and taxpayer-funded subsidies would be provided for those who could not afford insurance. The bill would first ease, then ban, the practice of denying coverage due to pre-existing medical conditions.  The Senate bill also includes a provision for “insurance exchanges,” through which the government would sell insurance in competition with private companies.  A provision to let states opt-out of the exchanges died Saturday as changes were made to the bill.

And how will we pay for it all?  Through a few budget cuts and a heap of additional taxes.  Included in the list of new taxes are a raise in payroll taxes on incomes over $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples (a ‘marriage penalty’?); the bill also includes tax increases on insurance companies, medical device makers, consumers choosing elective cosmetic surgery, and drugmakers.  Expect the expense of these new taxes to be passed along to the consumer.

Republicans condemned the bill as a costly government intrusion in the private sector that would raise insurance premiums, reduce consumer choices and raise taxes. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) stated, “This 2,000-page bill will drive up the cost of health care insurance and medical care, not down.  This is not true health care reform, and it is not what the American people want. This bill will result in higher premiums and higher health care costs for Americans — period.”

Congressional budget analysts put the legislation’s cost at around $900 billion over a decade, saying it would reduce deficits over the same period while extending coverage to 94 percent of the eligible population. How do you add billions in new spending and still cut the deficit?  You tweak the numbers.  New taxes for the health care system will be levied beginning right away, while health care coverage will not go into effect until 2014.   Collect payments now, present a tidy balance sheet, issue benefits later.

Democrats are hoping for 3 weeks of debate culminating in a completed bill by Christmas, which would be followed by a compromise conference between Democratic House and Senate leaders.  They hope to have a final bill ready for a vote in mid January.

Rally to Help Public Get Involved in Political Process

A rally sponsored by Utah 912 chapters and Utah Tea Party is scheduled for tomorrow morning; the rally will focus on educating citizens about how they can become more involved in the political process.  The event will be held Saturday, November 14, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, at the Utah State Capitol (inside the Rotunda).

Congressman Jason Chaffetz is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the event.  Speakers will educate attendees about how the Utah delegate system works, and about how they can make a difference by representing their neighborhood as an elected State or County Delegate.  Some topics covered will include:

• The secret to making local and national political change is with you and your neighbors.
• Utah has a unique situation which gives us an enormous opportunity–we have a DELEGATE system with direct and major impact on Utah Elections.
• Delegates represent their neighborhood precinct in the State and County Conventions by voting for party candidates BEFORE the primary.
• If a candidate wins 60% of the delegate votes at the convention they become the party nominee and there is NO PRIMARY election–the winner immediately advances to the general election!  This delegate process levels the playing field for anyone who wants to run for office.

Organizers state, “We can not stress to you how important it is for you to attend and BRING A FRIEND!  If we all work together, we can start changing our nation–one neighborhood at a time.  Yes, YOU can make a difference!”

For more information, contact David Kirkham at 801-377-8224.

Health Care Bill Passes House

Call it the Congressional Saturday Night Special.  In a 220 – 215 vote Saturday night, the House of Representatives  passed sweeping and historic health care legislation.  HR3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, passed with 219 Democrats voting in favor and 39 voting against.  All House Republicans voted against the bill, with the exception of Representative Joe Cao (R-Louisiana).

The bill now goes to the Senate.  The Senate may choose to vote on the bill as passed by the House, or may choose to vote on its own version of the bill.  If the Senate passes its own version, the two versions would need to be reconciled and voted on again.  It will be interesting to see how those 100 men and women hold up under the intense pressure sure to come down on them from the government and from the public.  Be sure to let your senators know where you stand on this issue.

The Republican National Committee released the following statement after the vote:

“Today with help from their liberal House allies, President Obama and Nancy Pelosi finally got what they have been creating behind closed doors these past months — a government-run health careexperiment that will increase families’ health care costs, increase the deficit, increase taxes on small businesses and the middle class, and cut Medicare.”

The camel just squeezed its way further into the tent.

Shurtleff Suspends Senate Campaign

Mark Shurtleff today announced that he is suspending his campaign for US Senate in order to care for his daughter, who is experiencing health difficulties.

“I have chosen to take pause because my daughter’s health is very fragile,” Shurtleff posted on his senate campaign site. “She is struggling with emotional issues and has recently been placed in a treatment center.  Her recovery depends on the focus and energy we give her as parents over the next several months.  In the time since I announced my candidacy for the U.S. Senate, she has started experiencing severe mental health problems and is now in a treatment center. M’liss and I have been told by her doctors that we will be needed in numerous counseling sessions to give our daughter a chance of recovery.”

Shurtleff went on to say, “Many of you know that I had a serious motorcycle accident a few years ago, and I would have lost my leg if I had not paused and taken the time to receive medical treatment to take care of it. I am not willing to lose my daughter, so I am suspending my campaign to care for her and my family. Most folks understand physical illness; it is my hope that people will learn how serious and dangerous mental illness can be.”

The full letter of explanation can be found on Shurtleff’s Senate Site.  Shurtleff assured Utahns that he will continue to serve in his capacity as state Attorney General.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Shurtleff family, as do our well-wishes for their daughter’s speedy recovery.

Provo / Orem General Election Results

The results are in for Tuesday’s Provo and Orem Municipal Primary Elections.   Voters elected the following candidates (designated with a *):

Orem Mayor: (95.45% of votes reported)
*Jerry Washburn (6,106 votes)
(Philip Hornberger – 1,993 votes )

Orem City Council: (3 seats)
*Brent Sumner (5,150)
*Karen McCandless (5,085)
*Mary Street (3,553)
(Dean Dickerson – 3,322)
(Shiree Thurston – 3,098)
(Steven Diamond -2,440)

Provo Mayor:
*John Curtis (53%)
(Steve Clark 47%)

Provo City Council Citiwide 1:
*Laura Cabanilla (57%)
(Coy Porter 43%)

Provo City Council District 5:
* Sterling Beck (53%)
(Cindy Richards 47%)

Provo City Council District 2  (not part of the Leg 61 boundaries):
*Rick Healey (%57)
(David Acheson 43%)

Provo City has a nifty election map link that lets you mouse over each voting precinct to see how many people voted and for whom.  Orem also has a nice election results page with good info.

In Provo, the total voter turnout (as calculated for the city-wide seats) was approximately 18%.  In Orem, total voter turnout was approximately 16%.

VOTE TODAY

Today  is the Provo and Orem municipal General  Election.  Remember to get out and vote!  Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  To find your polling location, visit the Lieutenant Governor’s webiste.

Be aware that a recent change in Utah law requires ALL voters to provide identification, so don’t leave home without it (valid identification includes a photo ID issued by the state or federal government, such as a Utah driver license or US passport; or two other forms of ID showing the voter’s name and address, such as a current utility bill or bank statement). Remember that federal law requires employers to allow employees time to vote.

Following is a list of the candidates pertaining to Legislative District 61 (you may wish to view the Provo City Council district map for Provo council district boundaries).  Also included below is a website address or email address for each candidate, if available:

OREM MAYOR CANDIDATES

• Philip Hornberger — phil4mayor.com
• Jerry C. Washburn — jerry4mayor.com

OREM CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

• Steven C. Diamond — www.stevencdiamond.com
• Dean Dickerson — www.deandickerson.com
• Karen McCandless — www.karen4council.com
• Mary Street — marystreet4citycouncil.com
• Brent Sumner — brentsumner.com
• Shiree A. Thurston — shireeforcouncil@gmail.com

PROVO MAYOR CANDIDATES

• Steve Clark –  www.stephendclark.com
• John Curtis — johncurtis.org

PROVO CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES (CITYWIDE 1)

• Laura Cabanilla –  laura4provo.com
• Coy Porter — www.coyforcouncil.com

PROVO CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES (DISTRICT 5)

• Sterling Beck — www.sterlingbeck.com
• Cindy Richards — votecindy.com

It looks like Provo City’s election map link is up and ready to begin recording election results as soon as they begin tabulations this evening.   Orem’s election results page also looks like it’s ready to go.

Please fulfill your privilege and responsibility to GET OUT AND VOTE!  And please remind your neighbors!

Health Care Reform Bill: Trick, or Treat?

Trick, or treat?  That’s the big question this week as Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats released their complex health care reform bill.  HR3962 is a 1,990 page bill called the “Affordable Health Care for America Act”.  The title sounds great (they always do), but what will this legislation mean for the average American?  Following are a few Republican assessments and references to help us begin to digest what the Democrats are serving:

According to the House Republican Policy Brief, we can expect to see a “massive federal involvement in the health care of every American,” including:

• Creation of a government-run insurance program that could cause as many as 114 million Americans to lose their current coverage;
• Abolition of the private market for individual health insurance, forcing individuals to purchase coverage in a government-run Exchange;
• Stifling insurance regulations that would raise premiums and encourage employers to drop coverage;
• Trillions of dollars in new federal spending that will exacerbate the deficit and imperil the nation’s long-term fiscal solvency;
• Taxes on all Americans—individuals who purchase insurance, individuals who do not purchase insurance, and millions of small businesses—that will kill jobs and raise health care premiums; and
• Cuts to Medicare Advantage plans that will result in higher premiums and dropped coverage for more than 10 million seniors.

GOP.gov Policy News lists several components of the bill and includes page numbers for reference.  Among the list are:

• Page 94 – Section 202(c) prohibits the sale of private individual health insurance policies, beginning in 2013, forcing individuals to purchase coverage through the federal government
• Page 225 – Section 330 permits—but does not require—Members of Congress to enroll in government-run health care
• Page 110 – Section 222(e) requires the use of federal dollars to fund abortions through the government-run health plan—and, if the Hyde Amendment were ever not renewed, would require the plan to fund elective abortions
• Page 520 – Section 1161 cuts more than $150 billion from Medicare Advantage plans, potentially jeopardizing millions of seniors’ existing coverage

House Republican Leader, John Boehner, posted an article this week on his website entitled “10 Facts Every American Should Know About Speaker Pelosi’s 1,990-Page Gov’t Takeover of Health Care”, which is worth a look.  Some of the points included in his analysis are:

• Raises taxes on middle-class families
• Increases the cost of health insurance
• Misses an opportunity to curtail junk lawsuits

This convoluted monster of a bill will take time and effort to understand, and we can expect more information to come to light as the House digs deeper into this legislation.  We can also probably expect the beast to morph as amendments add to its mass.  It is likely that the Democrats will hold to their strategy of trying to rush this bill through the legislative process before the public can mount a fight.  Keep an eye on this issue, and be sure to let your Representatives and Senators know what you think.