Live Blog Day 36
I will live blog day 36 (out of 45) of the session.
The budget weighs heavily on us. Having reached an impasse with the Senate, House Republican leadership worked with the Governor's people on Friday to put together a budget. News articles suggest that the Senate spent the weekend crafting its own budget. These likely will be exchanged today, and we'll see where that puts us. I'LL FILL IN BUDGET DETAILS HERE.
(2:40) We're still at loggerheads. All the House (and the Governor, I believe) wants the Senate to do at this point is take a firm position on how much money we're going to spend this year. Before we jump with both feet into negotiations regarding food tax, flat tax, etc., we need to know how much money we plan on taking out of the budget for transportation and tax cuts. We keep hearing that they agree with the $300 million number, but, then, we hear they don't. If they don't, we'd like them to simply let us know and then give us a number they do like. Until we agree on that number, we can't start spending. Otherwiwse, it all will get spent and we'll have set nothing aside.
CAUCUS. My day starts at 7:00 a.m., with a meeting of House conservatives. We had a bit of an inconclusive meeting, other than ratifying the position that $300 million should be set aside for tax cuts ($230 million of that figure), transportation, and water development.
COMMITTEE. At 8:00 a.m., my House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee meets to consider the following bills (audio link here).
1. SB 98 Safety Belt Enforcement Amendments (K. Hale).
This bill would allow law enforcement to pull over and ticket drivers for not buckling up. Currently, a driver cannot be pulled over for a seat belt infraction. A seat belt infraction is a secondary offense to some other primary infraction for which the driver is pulled over.
Sen. Hale presented. AAA spoke in favor, arguing this would save lives and fit well with out strong DUI laws. UDOT spoke in favor, pointing out that 75% of those dieing on our highways are improperly restrained. PTA spoke in favor, arguing that children largely do buckle up, but many parents don't; children need parents. Primary Childrens spoke in favor, arguing that properly buckled parents have properly buckled children. Highway Patrol spoke in favor, arguing that buckled drivers are safer because they don't slide around in dicey situations. Chairman Bowman is describing the death of his son-in-law in a rollover. Rep. Pat Jones moves to pass the bill. It fails 6-4.
2. HB 402 Sentencing Amendments (S. Urquhart)
Though this bill has a fiscal note that could choke a horse, I want to start a discussion on how we sentence prisoners. If a prisoner is sentenced to Corrections, and if Corrections, then, sends that prisoner to a local jail, the local jail gets a pretty-good contracted rate. If, however, that same prisoner (the State's prisoner, mind you) is sentenced by the judge directly to a local jail, the jail gets a lower reimbursement rate. The State sets the reimbursement rate, and it is an open question whether that rate is fair to the counties that run the local jails. My starting proposal is to sentence all jail-time prisoners to Corrections (from where they can be farmed out at contracted rates).
This passed unanimously, with no discussion.
3. HB 350 Concealed Firearms Instructors (C. Oda)
This bill imposes more stringent criteria on concealed-firearms instructors. Rep. Oda arranged for me to get my concealed-carry permit this past year. I occassionally show the permit to Sara, to remind her how macho I am. She says it would be more impressive, if I owned a gun.
Clark Aposhian (an instructor) is speaking in favor, pointing out that some instructors should be much better; unless we tighten things a bit, safety and recognition by other states could be brought into question.
Rep. Kiser is concerned that this is too much a gate-keeper statute. Rep. Jones wants clarification whether we're in danger, if things stay as they are. Ed McConkie, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, is clarifying concerns regarding the screening we do on instructors, saying he needs the help this bill would provide. Rep. Kiser wants to know the cost and time involved in the NRA-level class instructors would need to take ($20 and up; a day, to a couple of days). One of the most important skills up here is counting votes; I'm sensing Rep. Kiser is feeling better about the bill with that answer (not that it matters much for present purposes; I suspect this bill will pass committee with margin).
I was wrong about Rep. Kiser being put at ease. It passed unanimously, except for him.
4. HB 164 Compensation for Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration (D. Litvack)
This bill would provide a way to compensate people who have been wrongfully convicted.
Heather Harris is helping Rep. Litvack present. She took a class on wrongful conviction and was inspired to get some legislation going. Her presentation, like the e-mails I have received from her, is very impressive. On Rep. Bourdeaux's motion, the bill was sent back to the Rules Committee, with a recommendation that it be studied over the interim.
5. HB 362 Enforcement of Controlled Substance Laws (D. Hogue)
This bill would make it tougher to acquire precursor ingredients for crystal meth. I've read a fair amount about this topic and talked with a few local pharmacists. I'm anxious to see where the discussion goes and hopeful that the sponsor has worked with vendors to strike the right balance.
Unfortunately, Rep. Hogue is detained in another committee and will not be able to present his bill today.
6. 2 SB 175 Correctional Facility Bidding Process (H. Stephenson)
Over the next 10-years, the State is projected to spend about $500,000,000 on increased prison capacity and operations. I can quickly think of hundreds of other areas where I'd rather spend the money. Private providers should be part of the solution.
We skipped this for now, because Sen. Stephenson hadn't arrived. We're back to this one. Sen. Stephenson handed out information, showing that all of our surrounding states have private prison facilities (from 1.7% in California and 4% in Nevada up to about 30% in Wyoming and Montana and 42% in New Mexico).
We adjourned without taking action on this bill. The sponsor's understanding was that private contracting would take place after the next 300 beds are in place at Gunnison. That turned out to not be Corrections' understanding; they want private contracting to only kick in only after Gunnison is fully built out (about 2,000 more beds).
7. SB 185 Drug Offender Reform Act Amendments (S. Killpack)
Though this bill merely broadens the data base of information in our drug offender reform act pilot program, I'll see if I can't squeeze a Whitman's Sampler quote out of Sen. Killpack.
This blew through and was sent to the consent calendar.
FLOOR TIME. We'll be on the floor at 9:30 a.m., to quickly work through the consent calendar (without debate) and, then, the House 3rd-reading calendar. (Click HERE to get the calendar menu; then, click on the relevant calendars and, if you want, the audio and video links). This is the same calendar we use on the floor. Though I'll comment on only a few of the bills, feel free to go to town in the comments section.
10:30 On the concurrence calendar, we are debating 3 HB 46 (Energy Policy Amendments). The concern is that the Senate included language that would allow study of a nuclear reactor. Everyone realizes that study hurts nothing, but because it invokes nuclear passions, it took up a lot of time but, then, passed 69-2.
10:40 When we are on the floor, people who want to speak to us send in messages (we call them "green notes," because they are on green paper). I've already received several notes, a few on Sen. Stephenson's private prison bill (from Corrections and private prison proponents). It gets difficult following debate, working on bills, and going in the hallway for all the green notes, but I do like that we have the green notes; I hope the public doesn't buy the rhetoric that we aren't accessible to the public. If they do, they're leaving the hallways and green notes to others. Typically, I collect the green notes and go out about every half hour.
11:05 Rep. Morgan moved to uncircle her reading requirements bill. Because circled bills have a higher priority, it bumped Rep. Frank's uniform bill. We already voted against the reading requirements bill once, but nothing up here really dies. I like the concept of the bill (grade-level reading by 3rd grade is a good thing), but the medicine is a bit much (automatic failure). My youngest was born 13-weeks too early. She'll be behind at the end of 3rd-grade. She doesn't need to be held back; she simply needs some time to catch up. By her senior year, she'll do great. She, and others, don't need this bill.
This bill failed (again). We'll see if it's really dead this time.
11:30 We are addressing Rep. Frank's bill on school uniforms. The main change here is that parents in a school can vote to impose uniform requirements. I'm not a public school uniform fan at all. I don't care if my neighbors do vote on how to dress my kids; it shouldn't be their choice. But, this bill will blow through. Proponents tease me that I must be defending a KISS concert T-shirt I wore in high school or something. How dare they impugn me! It was a Neil Young concert T-shirt.
It passed 46-25.
11:50 We have been going for over 2 hours (in the last full-week of the session), and we're on our fourth bill. Grrr. The last week of the session, my job as whip includes prioritizing the House bills we want the Senate to address. Because we've gone so slow this session, we are going to have many House bills die for lack of time. People will be freaking out the last week to get their bills on the prioritization lists, but . . .
I went off the floor to work out language on SB 113 (Governmental Immunity Limits). Currently, the caps are $500,000 (actually, $553,000 because it is adjusted for inflation) per individual and $1,000,000 per occurrence. The bill would raise it to $1,000,000 and $10,000,000. Local governments think that is too high, and want to raise the per occurrence cap to $2,000,000 and allow a Board of Examiners to go higher in extraordinary cases.
2:35 Mike Morley just passed his bill that addresses how and when schools can recommend psychotropic drugs to children. After the Governor's veto last year, Rep. Morley worked very hard with various interested groups, to put together a bill that should pass into law.
3:25 Rep. Holdaway is running his bill to provide for optional all-day kindergarten in Title I schools. The bill would cost $7 million/year. Rep. Oda made a motion to decrease the age to four. Rep. Dayton is now making a motion to decrease the age to three. It looks like the troops are getting a little testy.
3:55 lots of debate on this bill (which, by the way, was prioritized 24th out of 26 by the education subappropriations committee -- meaning that, in any event, it is unlikely to be prioritized, unless someone (i.e., the Gov) works it big time). It passed with margin (but it still has the funding hurdle to clear).
We're off the floor. I have a House leadership meeting and, then, a rural caucus meeting tonight.
The budget weighs heavily on us. Having reached an impasse with the Senate, House Republican leadership worked with the Governor's people on Friday to put together a budget. News articles suggest that the Senate spent the weekend crafting its own budget. These likely will be exchanged today, and we'll see where that puts us. I'LL FILL IN BUDGET DETAILS HERE.
(2:40) We're still at loggerheads. All the House (and the Governor, I believe) wants the Senate to do at this point is take a firm position on how much money we're going to spend this year. Before we jump with both feet into negotiations regarding food tax, flat tax, etc., we need to know how much money we plan on taking out of the budget for transportation and tax cuts. We keep hearing that they agree with the $300 million number, but, then, we hear they don't. If they don't, we'd like them to simply let us know and then give us a number they do like. Until we agree on that number, we can't start spending. Otherwiwse, it all will get spent and we'll have set nothing aside.
CAUCUS. My day starts at 7:00 a.m., with a meeting of House conservatives. We had a bit of an inconclusive meeting, other than ratifying the position that $300 million should be set aside for tax cuts ($230 million of that figure), transportation, and water development.
COMMITTEE. At 8:00 a.m., my House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee meets to consider the following bills (audio link here).
1. SB 98 Safety Belt Enforcement Amendments (K. Hale).
This bill would allow law enforcement to pull over and ticket drivers for not buckling up. Currently, a driver cannot be pulled over for a seat belt infraction. A seat belt infraction is a secondary offense to some other primary infraction for which the driver is pulled over.
Sen. Hale presented. AAA spoke in favor, arguing this would save lives and fit well with out strong DUI laws. UDOT spoke in favor, pointing out that 75% of those dieing on our highways are improperly restrained. PTA spoke in favor, arguing that children largely do buckle up, but many parents don't; children need parents. Primary Childrens spoke in favor, arguing that properly buckled parents have properly buckled children. Highway Patrol spoke in favor, arguing that buckled drivers are safer because they don't slide around in dicey situations. Chairman Bowman is describing the death of his son-in-law in a rollover. Rep. Pat Jones moves to pass the bill. It fails 6-4.
2. HB 402 Sentencing Amendments (S. Urquhart)
Though this bill has a fiscal note that could choke a horse, I want to start a discussion on how we sentence prisoners. If a prisoner is sentenced to Corrections, and if Corrections, then, sends that prisoner to a local jail, the local jail gets a pretty-good contracted rate. If, however, that same prisoner (the State's prisoner, mind you) is sentenced by the judge directly to a local jail, the jail gets a lower reimbursement rate. The State sets the reimbursement rate, and it is an open question whether that rate is fair to the counties that run the local jails. My starting proposal is to sentence all jail-time prisoners to Corrections (from where they can be farmed out at contracted rates).
This passed unanimously, with no discussion.
3. HB 350 Concealed Firearms Instructors (C. Oda)
This bill imposes more stringent criteria on concealed-firearms instructors. Rep. Oda arranged for me to get my concealed-carry permit this past year. I occassionally show the permit to Sara, to remind her how macho I am. She says it would be more impressive, if I owned a gun.
Clark Aposhian (an instructor) is speaking in favor, pointing out that some instructors should be much better; unless we tighten things a bit, safety and recognition by other states could be brought into question.
Rep. Kiser is concerned that this is too much a gate-keeper statute. Rep. Jones wants clarification whether we're in danger, if things stay as they are. Ed McConkie, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, is clarifying concerns regarding the screening we do on instructors, saying he needs the help this bill would provide. Rep. Kiser wants to know the cost and time involved in the NRA-level class instructors would need to take ($20 and up; a day, to a couple of days). One of the most important skills up here is counting votes; I'm sensing Rep. Kiser is feeling better about the bill with that answer (not that it matters much for present purposes; I suspect this bill will pass committee with margin).
I was wrong about Rep. Kiser being put at ease. It passed unanimously, except for him.
4. HB 164 Compensation for Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration (D. Litvack)
This bill would provide a way to compensate people who have been wrongfully convicted.
Heather Harris is helping Rep. Litvack present. She took a class on wrongful conviction and was inspired to get some legislation going. Her presentation, like the e-mails I have received from her, is very impressive. On Rep. Bourdeaux's motion, the bill was sent back to the Rules Committee, with a recommendation that it be studied over the interim.
5. HB 362 Enforcement of Controlled Substance Laws (D. Hogue)
This bill would make it tougher to acquire precursor ingredients for crystal meth. I've read a fair amount about this topic and talked with a few local pharmacists. I'm anxious to see where the discussion goes and hopeful that the sponsor has worked with vendors to strike the right balance.
Unfortunately, Rep. Hogue is detained in another committee and will not be able to present his bill today.
6. 2 SB 175 Correctional Facility Bidding Process (H. Stephenson)
Over the next 10-years, the State is projected to spend about $500,000,000 on increased prison capacity and operations. I can quickly think of hundreds of other areas where I'd rather spend the money. Private providers should be part of the solution.
We skipped this for now, because Sen. Stephenson hadn't arrived. We're back to this one. Sen. Stephenson handed out information, showing that all of our surrounding states have private prison facilities (from 1.7% in California and 4% in Nevada up to about 30% in Wyoming and Montana and 42% in New Mexico).
We adjourned without taking action on this bill. The sponsor's understanding was that private contracting would take place after the next 300 beds are in place at Gunnison. That turned out to not be Corrections' understanding; they want private contracting to only kick in only after Gunnison is fully built out (about 2,000 more beds).
7. SB 185 Drug Offender Reform Act Amendments (S. Killpack)
Though this bill merely broadens the data base of information in our drug offender reform act pilot program, I'll see if I can't squeeze a Whitman's Sampler quote out of Sen. Killpack.
This blew through and was sent to the consent calendar.
FLOOR TIME. We'll be on the floor at 9:30 a.m., to quickly work through the consent calendar (without debate) and, then, the House 3rd-reading calendar. (Click HERE to get the calendar menu; then, click on the relevant calendars and, if you want, the audio and video links). This is the same calendar we use on the floor. Though I'll comment on only a few of the bills, feel free to go to town in the comments section.
10:30 On the concurrence calendar, we are debating 3 HB 46 (Energy Policy Amendments). The concern is that the Senate included language that would allow study of a nuclear reactor. Everyone realizes that study hurts nothing, but because it invokes nuclear passions, it took up a lot of time but, then, passed 69-2.
10:40 When we are on the floor, people who want to speak to us send in messages (we call them "green notes," because they are on green paper). I've already received several notes, a few on Sen. Stephenson's private prison bill (from Corrections and private prison proponents). It gets difficult following debate, working on bills, and going in the hallway for all the green notes, but I do like that we have the green notes; I hope the public doesn't buy the rhetoric that we aren't accessible to the public. If they do, they're leaving the hallways and green notes to others. Typically, I collect the green notes and go out about every half hour.
11:05 Rep. Morgan moved to uncircle her reading requirements bill. Because circled bills have a higher priority, it bumped Rep. Frank's uniform bill. We already voted against the reading requirements bill once, but nothing up here really dies. I like the concept of the bill (grade-level reading by 3rd grade is a good thing), but the medicine is a bit much (automatic failure). My youngest was born 13-weeks too early. She'll be behind at the end of 3rd-grade. She doesn't need to be held back; she simply needs some time to catch up. By her senior year, she'll do great. She, and others, don't need this bill.
This bill failed (again). We'll see if it's really dead this time.
11:30 We are addressing Rep. Frank's bill on school uniforms. The main change here is that parents in a school can vote to impose uniform requirements. I'm not a public school uniform fan at all. I don't care if my neighbors do vote on how to dress my kids; it shouldn't be their choice. But, this bill will blow through. Proponents tease me that I must be defending a KISS concert T-shirt I wore in high school or something. How dare they impugn me! It was a Neil Young concert T-shirt.
It passed 46-25.
11:50 We have been going for over 2 hours (in the last full-week of the session), and we're on our fourth bill. Grrr. The last week of the session, my job as whip includes prioritizing the House bills we want the Senate to address. Because we've gone so slow this session, we are going to have many House bills die for lack of time. People will be freaking out the last week to get their bills on the prioritization lists, but . . .
I went off the floor to work out language on SB 113 (Governmental Immunity Limits). Currently, the caps are $500,000 (actually, $553,000 because it is adjusted for inflation) per individual and $1,000,000 per occurrence. The bill would raise it to $1,000,000 and $10,000,000. Local governments think that is too high, and want to raise the per occurrence cap to $2,000,000 and allow a Board of Examiners to go higher in extraordinary cases.
2:35 Mike Morley just passed his bill that addresses how and when schools can recommend psychotropic drugs to children. After the Governor's veto last year, Rep. Morley worked very hard with various interested groups, to put together a bill that should pass into law.
3:25 Rep. Holdaway is running his bill to provide for optional all-day kindergarten in Title I schools. The bill would cost $7 million/year. Rep. Oda made a motion to decrease the age to four. Rep. Dayton is now making a motion to decrease the age to three. It looks like the troops are getting a little testy.
3:55 lots of debate on this bill (which, by the way, was prioritized 24th out of 26 by the education subappropriations committee -- meaning that, in any event, it is unlikely to be prioritized, unless someone (i.e., the Gov) works it big time). It passed with margin (but it still has the funding hurdle to clear).
We're off the floor. I have a House leadership meeting and, then, a rural caucus meeting tonight.
posted by steve u. at 2/20/2006
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19 Comments:
Rep. Urquhart,
The work you do for the people of this great state is fantastic. Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to give the people a taste of what you do up in the Legislature.
Rep. Urquhart,
As you know my emotions showed Friday night after Adams H.B. 184 passed out of the Education Committee. I was so sickened by it.
I did not apprecaite watching politics at work. This bill was pushed foward so fast, when it had just came out the day before @ 2:20 pm. With other's already in committee to be discussed. Why the rush? Were the votes there or were the ones that would not vote for the bill, gone?
Remind me, How many years has this bill failed in the past 5 years? What are the poeple telling you. Parents choice is not what is at stake here. It is the education for ALL children. Parents have choice, it will be schools choice whether or not to open their doors for them. With the private schools not having to have any accountiblity when accepting the vouchers...The question is...Why are the Legislators on the hill for 45 days making public schools accountable. What is wrong with this picture?
Please listen to the citizens, the School Districts, the Parents, the Children ( read the essay's), Teachers, not the outside influences. Stay true to yourself and you will become what ever you want to become. Steve you Stans up and do what your heart truely tells you is right.
Carmen Utah PTA President
Carmen,
Right now, my heart is telling me, "No more donuts."
You know I love you and your passion, and I regret that you were turned off by the process Friday. As you note, though, this issue isn't new. Every rep on the committee has seen it atleast 3 years now (most have seen it the 5 you mention). We knew where Stuart was going, and we supported it.
Now, let me ask you this, if you think it wrong that we had made up our minds before hearing the debate -- is there any amendment that could have been made that would have caused you to support the bill? Probably not. By this point, people know where they are on this issue.
Steve,
You are right, NO amendment would make a difference on how I feel about Tuition taxs. If they would have; Rep. Dee would have had our support. We know once this gets into the law there is no telling where it will go, like the Carson Smith bill. Because of the process Friday night it passed out of committee and it might not have if those that were missing from the table would have been there. I know that those that voted yes were just going through the motions making it look like it was a fair process; which it wasn't.
My real question is what is driving this bill or should I say who? I know that this is a National push..., as well as H.B. 143 Hughes and others. It scares me to think what big money can do...and I feel the education of ALL the Chidren of Utah is what is at stake. We won't be the great nation we are today if we lose that. Instead we will have the educated and the uneducated. As I said Friday what makes our Country so great is that ALL children have an opportunity to receive an education.
Carmen
I love the blog journal; it really gives us all a taste what is going on and how. Keep up the good work.
By the way, make sure the voucher bill passes. It is long over due.
This is probably familar to you:
people became to be distingusihed by ranks, acording to their riches and their chances for learning, some were ignorant because of thier poverty and others did receive great learning because of their riches. Steve this is powerful! Right?
ON the radio 570, with Bob Lounsberry quote: "Our country was founded on public education not subsidising other poeple's choices of education."
Something for you to think about.
Carmen
Well, if Bob Lounsberry said it, end of story.
Actually, somebody ought to tell Bob that this country was founded at a time where no public education existed at all.
And if you are so concerned about people becoming ignorant for lack of education, why don't you support vouchers? The public education system is not suited for everyone. There are several learning types, and public education really only caters to one type. What about the rest? Are they supposed to suffer a system that is set up for their failure? Of course not. We should allow them to choose an environment best suited for their learning needs.
Otherwise, the evil you decry remains a reality for many.
Mr. GARN,
I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE OR WHO YOU REPRESENT. FROM WHAT YOU WROTE YOU NEED TO STUDY THE PEOPLES CHOICE BILL (VOUCHERS) AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.
Steve,
Thanks for your note recently. You're a class act.
You're doing a great job up there! It was fascinating to read your blog that covered your day - your meetings, the floor, etc.
What are your personal thoughts about SB98 (Seat belts)? I know it didn't pass, but I didn't check how you voted. I certainly support the concept - I was just curious as to what the opposition's rationale is. I can understand people not wanting governement to mandate EVERYTHING, and maybe that was the opposition.
I agree with school vouchers. I think I've heard all the arguements pro and con. I respect the concerns against them, but like you, I think it's high time to enable other options. I see lots and lots of problems with the public education system that nobody seems willing or able to fix. I also think vouchers will NOT hurt public education, since as I understand it, they'll still get some of the monies they'd get if they enrolled a student that opts to go to a private school. Sounds to me like that means public education can therefore cover their fixed costs. No more excuses is right! Make it work, educators/administrators!
What do you think about the Utah Health Alliance's effort to let PEHP administer small employer health insurance? Dr. Joe Jarvis is speaking at the St. George Chamber tomorrow. I'll be there to hear his take. I understand the bill they support (HB122)has been "watered down". Is that right? Frankly I'd support a good study on this issue, because I've heard PEHP isn't even all that sure they WANT to administer small employer health insurance. I know this: it will cost them more to do this than to administer large employer health insurance. On the other hand, if the state wants to basically find a way to subsidize small employer health insurance, fine. But we've got to do it fairly, and very carefully so the whole thing doesn't collapse and end up in the state's hands.
Also, did I hear that HB 343 is dead? I hope it isn't, frankly. It makes sense for hospitals, even though health insurers would like the option to pay the patient directly in cases where the provider isn't contracted with them. The reality is, it doesn't need to happen, and it places a large burden on providers.
Good luck this week!
I'm afraid that Ms. Snow's shrill cries of the impending destruction of our education system ring rather irrational and silly, especially in light of the fact that other localities have successully implemented similar policies. One can only surmise that the the incredible fear of this bill is rooted in something other than the main arguments regularly applied against it. It requires little imagination to see behind this veil.
Carmen,
I am nobody important, and I only represent my two children and my conscience.
I HAVE read the bill, as well as all the school choice bills since 2002. Additionally, I have read the statutes allowing for school choice in places like Florida, Milwaukee, and Cleveland. I have also read the Supreme Court's ruling in regard to vouchers and a host of academic literature on the topic.
You are more than welcome to buy into the teacher unions' propaganda, but don't assume I have not read the bill because I don't agree with you.
I am just curious, what research and/or data as led you to your conclusions?
Jon,
Thanks for the note and encouragement. It's always nice to hear from home.
I voted against making seatbelts a primary offense. It currently is the law that drivers have to wear seat belts. While making it a primary offense likely would increase citations, I'm not convinced it would change useage patterns.
HB 122 has been gutted; it is now a bill to study the issue.
My HB 343 is still alive and kicking.
Mr. Garn
H.B. 184 Parent Choice in Education
bill there is no accountability for private schools in the bill-no audit, no accreditation, no teacher licensing, only test comparable to no other state tests, no protection of student records, no protection for students via background checks on employees.
Any Voucher program that applies public funds to religious institutions is Unconstitutional under the Utah
Constitution Art. I, sec. 4. Program also requires use of public funds to determine private schools' eligibiliyt to accept voucher students, monitor payments and investigate complaints.
There are plenty of private sector funds for private sector vouchers. Use that instead of creating another big-government welfare entitlement program.
And for the next person who says we have "no choice" here in Utah, then your nose will have to grow a foot long.
With respect to Jon, the funding follows the student. The student gets NO money if the student goes to a private school. It can indeed hurt the public school system. Actually that is supposed to be the end result for vouchers. I have talked to MANY, MANY conservatives in that regard and that is indeed the case. And it would stand to have a more detrimental effect in Utah than other places.
What I am getting tired is the hostility towards teachers and public education that it is creating. I think we could make our public education system here one that could be envied--we have a real chance here, if we go about it the right way--not in a combative mode.
Now as for vouchers, I would just love to have the "choice" to have even 1 child to raise. I have waited long for that opportunity and am working towards it. I have no idea how someone who has that "choice" especially with more than one child can complain about not having a "choice." They have the GREATEST choice and privilege in the world--that of being a parent. Now some want me to subsidize their own personal "choice" because of their "lack of choice." You can just imagine what I think of this.
Every day I yearn to have a child to raise. It will still be many years to come before I can have that opportunity. Do I expect others to pick up the tab so I can have my choice? NO! It will be my own doing. In the meantime, I will do the best I can for others and to work towards that opportunity. You can bet that even having ONE child will be more glorious to me than anything else. If that happens, I will never have anything more to complain about, that's for sure.
Jordan says he represents his two children. That is fine. Every parent has the choice on how to raise his/her children, what values they are taught, and what kind of education they receive. That's what my parents knew already. We went to inner-city schools and got a wonderful education because my parents did things like limit TV, put a no-friends-over rule for weeknights, and so on. In short, they determined we would get that, no matter what because they knew that it was THEIR responsibility to make sure of it. They didn't need some kind of entitlement program to accomplish that.
This was done not years ago, but in recent years, just as my brothers and sisters and cousins take the same attitude with their kids and originating from our aunts, uncles, and grandparents who knew that to get a good education there were things like individual responsibility and good parenting involved as well. They didn't blame others if things went wrong, they made SURE things went right. My own family has had plenty of speedbumps along the way, but my parents taught us how to deal with such things and we have used them to STRENGTHEN our lives as it does today. I am thankful to see the types of leaders my siblings have become and hope that I can someday achieve their true measure.
Hmmmmm..... My neighbors have a wide variety of public, private, and charter schools to fit any budget or circumstance within a short drive from here. The choices among high schools are enormous. Then some of them with their 4000 square foot houses, boats, motor homes, etc. say that they have "no" choice and need someone else to pay for their "choice." Hmmmmm.....
Vouchers are liberal, plain and simple.
I have to wonder why Oda and Dayton were lowering the ages for the "kindergarten bill." Knowing somewhat of their positions, were they joking???
There are a few good bills here. I actually do approve of parents voting on uniforms in public schools for example.
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