Does the Utah Democratic Party Have A Future in Utah?

Posted by Utah House Democrats on Jul 31, 2009

Our very own Representative Trisha Beck, D–Sandy, District 48 was on the Bob Lonsberry Show, (KNRS 570am) on Thursday, July 30.

The guest host was Larry Gelwix, who asked the question “Does the Utah Democratic Party Have a Future in Utah?”

Trisha’s response to the question was an emphatic “YES!“

Take a listen:

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(14 minutes, 49 seconds)

Wonderful job, Trisha!

That Pioneering Spirit

Posted by Utah House Democrats on Jul 24, 2009

When the Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, they had been through the ringer. Utah history teaches of their suffering: a past tainted with persecution, intolerance, and murder; a harrowing winter across the plains from Illinois; more sickness and death. Many had left everything they owned and loved behind because they were looking for a place to live and practice their religion in peace. So, in the summer of 1847, they arrived in the great Salt Lake Valley to create a better life for their families and future generations.

Their prophets had taught them to work together for the common good. Each participant was to bring something that would benefit the entire community: a talent, a resource, or a skill. It was in this spirit they built up their new community in the desert, planting crops and trees, building homes, businesses, schools and churches, and planning a community that would be their own Utopia in the west where they would live and work together in harmony.

In the 160 plus years since those first pioneers arrived, there have been many other pioneers from different religions, races, cultures and countries who have come to Utah for a better life, each bringing something that enriches the community. Today we celebrate all of them – whether they came here by handcart, covered wagon, airplane or automobile. We celebrate the pioneering spirit of every person who lives here, who work hard every day to make their faith in the things that are important to them come to fruition.

Those of us who have chosen to serve as legislators do so because we want to see every person’s dreams become realities. As Democrats in the Utah Legislature, we believe that everyone deserves the basic of human freedoms: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We choose to serve because we believe in the greater common good. We believe that every child in our state deserves a top notch education, a loving home, good food to eat, clean water to drink, and good health. We understand that every aging citizen of our state deserves to live out the last years of his or her life with dignity, and that veterans who have served our country so bravely deserve to be honored for their sacrifice, not only with medals and accolades, but with good health care, shelter, and assistance.

All Utah families have the right to pursue happiness through gainful employment that pays a fair wage. Utah students who work hard have every right to attend college and be able to afford tuition, regardless of decisions made by their parents. Those who come here legally from other nations seeking a better life deserve to be treated with respect regardless of religious beliefs, the color of their skin, or language barriers.

That’s what Utah’s history teaches us – that we all have the right to live and work and worship and provide and create and pursue a better life. That’s our pioneering spirit, and that’s what we are celebrating this week.

Tribune Editorial – Fair Boundaries

Posted by Utah House Democrats on Jul 13, 2009

What do you think? We’d love to hear your opinions on redistricting and representation in Utah.

From the Salt Lake Tribune…

Fair Boundaries

For the Fair Boundaries proposal to become law, its supporters must collect enough voter signatures on its petitions to place the initiative on the November 2010 ballot. The wrangling before the Supreme Court concerns the cost estimate that would appear in the petition and ballot language.

The Legislature hates the idea of giving part of its power to draw voting districts to an independent commission. The Fair Boundaries initiative would do just that. One way for legislators to kill the idea would be to convince voters that a commission would be too expensive, so we aren’t surprised that bureaucrats who work for the Legislature and governor have slapped a $1 million price tag on the proposed commission.

That number is based on the false premise that if the initiative were to become law, the Legislature and the commission would have to run two redistricting staffs parallel to each other. The Fair Boundaries supporters are contesting that dollar figure before the Utah Supreme Court, arguing that the cost estimate is inaccurate because it presumes a duplicative process when the language in the proposed law says that only one staff would be necessary. We believe that argument is correct.

Under the federal and state constitutions, the Legislature redraws the boundaries of congressional, legislative and state school board districts every 10 years following the U.S. census. The goal is to create districts with nearly equal numbers of voters in each, preserving equal representation for everyone. But there are many ways to draw those lines, and legislators often have a different goal in mind: preserving their own seats and maintaining their party’s control.

To prevent such gerrymandering, the Fair Boundaries initiative would set up an 11-member commission to redraw the boundaries. It would prepare an initial plan, convene public hearings around the state, then recommend a final plan to the Legislature. Lawmakers would then be required, in a special session, to vote the plan up or down. If the Legislature rejected the plan, it would have to prepare and adopt a plan of its own, applying the same standards that the law would require of the commission.

The $1 million figure is inaccurate because the initiative clearly states that the Legislature’s research staff also would serve the commission. Judging from past experience, it would probably produce numerous redistricting proposals. Even if the Legislature rejected the one favored by the commission, it would not have to start from scratch.

To claim otherwise ignores the plain language of the proposal.

From the Whitehouse – 16 Utah Colleges and Universities Partner with VA to Improve GI Bill Benefits

Posted by Utah House Democrats on Jul 13, 2009

Sixteen Utah Colleges and Universities Partner with VA to Improve GI Bill Benefits

Out-of-State, Private, and Graduate Educations Made More Affordable

WASHINGTON – Sixteen colleges, universities and schools across Utah have entered into Yellow Ribbon Program agreements with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve financial aid for veterans participating in the Post-9/11 GI Bill program.

Over 3,400 agreements were received from the 1,100 schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program. “This is a strong response to a new benefit,” said Keith Wilson, Director of VA’s Education Service. “We are pleased so many institutions are supporting our Veterans.”

“The Post-9/11 GI Bill is an important part of fulfilling our promise to the men and women who have served our country so honorably. Implementing this landmark legislation and providing even more veterans with a quality education is a top priority for the VA, and we are grateful so many schools are joining us as partners in this unprecedented effort,” VA Secretary Eric Shinseki said.

UT State Yellow Ribbon Program Information

The Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, funds tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. Institutions can contribute up to 50 percent of those expenses, and VA will match this additional funding for eligible students.

The Yellow Ribbon Program is reserved for those Veterans eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100 percent benefit level. This includes those who served at least 36 months on active duty or served at least 30 continuous days and were discharged due to a service-related injury.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill, passed by Congress last year, is the most extensive educational assistance program authorized since the original GI Bill was signed into law in 1944.

The maximum benefit allows every eligible Veteran, servicemember, reservist, and National Guard member an opportunity to receive an in-state, undergraduate education at a public institution at no cost.

Provisions of the program include payments for tuition and fees, housing, and a books and supplies stipend. Benefits are payable for training pursued on or after August 1, 2009. The tuition and fee benefit is paid directly to the school.

Additional information about the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program, as well as VA’s other educational benefit programs, can be obtained by visiting VA’s Web site www.gibill.va.gov or by calling 1-888-GIBILL-1 (or 1-888-442-4551).

Fair Boundaries – Redistricting Meetings to be held

Posted by Utah House Democrats on Jul 8, 2009