Rep Doughty Says State Employees Deserve Freedom & Choice With Their Insurance
Representative Brian Doughty (D)
Fantastic OpEd in the Salt Lake Tribune from Representative Brian Doughty on HB 64! Every state employee deserves the chance and freedom to use their insurance as they choose. Read it below!
Imagine that I am a state employee of Utah who has been working in the same department for 10 years. Now imagine that I have a co-worker, Bob, who has worked in the cubicle next to me for six months. I am single with no dependents, and Bob is married with five children (not an unusual number in Utah).
Bob has elected to enroll in the State’s PEHP insurance benefits program, adding his wife and five children to the plan as dependents, while I have enrolled only myself. However, my handicapped sibling, mentally disabled son, or partner, just to give a few examples, also lives with me, is dependent upon my income, and needs health insurance which I cannot afford on my income.
Even though I’ve been a state employee for a decade, I am not allowed to add them to my insurance despite the fact that they are financially dependent on me. On the other hand, even though Bob has only been working here for six months he is allowed to insure seven individuals.
While I do not begrudge Bob his access to the insurance benefits, as a state employee shouldn’t my dependents have access to the same benefits that Bob’s do? Isn’t that the purpose of a family insurance plan, to take care of our loved ones?
House Bill 64 is a common-sense bill which would give state employees more options and flexibility with their insurance benefits….
Read the rest of the article HERE
Read MoreUtah House Passes Democrat’s Emergency Contact Law
Representative Marie Poulson (D)
Salt Lake City – Moments ago, the Utah House of Representatives passed HB 21 from Representative Marie Poulson (D- HD 46). The new law will create a system for emergency responders to access emergency-contact information.
At the interim Committee Hearing for HB 21 several months ago, Cottonwood Heights Assistant Chief of Police Paul Brenneman described a situation where police responded to a car accident, and the driver involved was elderly and so shaken he couldn’t answer questions. It took several hours for the police to find the name and contact information for the man’s wife.
Other first responders have described situations where victims have lived for several hours after accidents, but because they were unable to speak, their loved ones were unable to join them in their final moments.
“This bill will create a database of emergency contact information with the DMV,” said Representative Poulson. “Any Utahn will now have the option to provide that information if they wish, which will be accessible by the police and emergency responders. This is a common-sense Democratic solution to fix a real problem in the lives of Utahns.”
The new law doesn’t require people to participate, but provides the option to do so when they apply for a new drivers license or renew an old one.
Read MoreLISTEN – Representative Joel Briscoe (D) Debates Rep Ken Ivory (R)
Representative Joel Briscoe (D)
Salt Lake City – Representative Joel Briscoe (D – HD 25) squared off with Representative Ken Ivory (R) yesterday on Utah Public Radio. Listen to the audio below!
Representative Ivory is planning on running a bill this session which would take land owned by the United States, like Utah’s National Parks, and give Utah the ability to mine them for oil or gas.
Listen to Representative Briscoe’s debate with Rep Ivory by clicking on the link: Brisco-Ivory-Debate
Read MoreDemocratic Lawmaker Announces New Approach To Teachers
Representative Carol Spackman Moss (D)
Salt Lake City – Representative Carol Spackman Moss is proud to announce the latest piece of legislation from the House Democrats in the Best Schools Initiative. The new bill would tackle head-on the problem of ineffective teachers.
HB 115 creates a pilot program called Peer Assistance and Review using expert teachers to conduct regular evaluations for novice teachers and under-performing veteran teachers.
“Nearly half of all teachers leave the profession within the first 5 years,” said Representative Moss. “We also have a growing concern about the continued employment of ineffective teachers.”
According to Representative Moss, Utah schools need to offer more support for struggling teachers.
“We have wonderful teachers here in Utah,” continued Representative Moss. “But how can we expect the best from them if we’re not willing to provide the necessary tools to help them be their best?”
Read MoreHouse Democrats Thank Federal Government For New Disaster Aid
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
House Democrats Thank Federal Government For New Disaster Aid
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Salt Lake City – The House Democratic Caucus issued an official ‘thank you’ to President Obama today, after the White House announced they were providing funds and aid to assist in the aftermath of the December’s wind storm.
The White House issued a press release dated 2/1/12 announcing that President Obama declared a “major disaster” in the state of Utah and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by a severe storm during the period of November 30 to December 1, 2011.
“This is yet another example of the great cooperation between the State of Utah and the Federal Government,” said House Democratic Leader David Litvack. “Helping each other in our times of need is the very essence of democracy, and we want to thank the President and the Federal Government for acting when needed.”
It was estimated that the wind storm caused nearly $20 Million in damage, and the federal funds are desperately needed to supplement what the State of Utah isn’t able to provide on its own.
The full White House press release can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/02/01/president-obama-signs-utah-disaster-declaration
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Video- House & Senate Democrats Weekly Press Briefing
House Democratic Leader David Litvack, Representatives Patrice Arent and Carol Spackman Moss, and Senator Karen Morgan
Salt Lake City – Today at their weekly press briefing, House and Senate Democrats laid out their plans for the Health Of Utah Families. Watch the video below!
“Few issues are as important for our local State Government to address as the health of the citizens of Utah.” said House Democratic Leader David Litvack. “Whether it be the quality of the air we breathe or the diseases we live with, these are things that we all face on a daily basis and it is a common-sense principle of Democrats in the Legislature to listen to the problems of Utah citizens and address those problems to protect both this generation as well as the future of our children.”
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