Utah Democrats delivered a message Tuesday about the many “message bills” that Republican legislators are running this election year to attack the federal government and the Obama administration.

“Enough is enough,” House Minority Leader David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, said in a news conference.

House Democratic Assistant Whip Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, complained that message bills take “time and the energy and the resources of the state Legislature … and divert them away from productive activity and into an attack on the federal government and an attack on the Obama administration.”

While Democrats don’t like the many message bills that attack public lands policies, they especially targeted the Senate-passed SB208, which would have Utah join a compact of states seeking to opt out of federal health care reform and, if allowed by Congress, control such programs as Medicare and Medicaid locally with federal block grants.

“This is not just a benign message bill,” said Senate Assistant Whip Pat Jones, D-Holladay. “Utah would be in charge of our own Medicaid and Medicare.”

She said Republicans are willing to take that big leap to send a message, without studying the costs and ramifications. She said she’s sure it will either raise taxes or lead to cuts in health care for seniors.

Litvack said the GOP effort is just “being driven by this desire to tell the current administration” that Republicans don’t like health reform, and “what is this, the seventh, eighth or ninth time that we’ve done that, so haven’t we sent that message?”

“If we’re serious as a legislative body and are not driven by posturing and politics and we want to talk about what’s the best way to provide health care to our citizens, then let’s do it the right way,” which he said would be to carefully look at costs and effects instead of leaving those as unanswered questions.

Read the full article HERE

“Are they doing any good up there?” That’s a question we frequently hear during the legislative session. Citizens often get a skewed image of the Legislature because the news media (us included) tend to focus on the unusual and inflammatory.

 

While it is much more fun to make snide remarks about legislative action, the truth is that almost all of what happens on the Hill is solid and sensible, and lawmakers receive little recognition for this work.

 

In addition, a number of legislators each session demonstrate real courage when they confront the establishment, their fellow party members, or conventional norms, sometimes putting themselves in political peril — in order to make a difference.

 

Here’s a short sampling of lawmakers who are sticking their necks out, for good or for bad (depending on your political perspective). Please note: Frank has a dog in almost all these legislative fights. He is more conflicted than Woody Allen.

 

…

 

We often hear about attempts to reform education — but rarely from a Democrat and a teacher. Rep. Carol Spackman Moss was a well-liked instructor at Olympus High School and has been a strong defender of public education in the Legislature. She is sponsoring a pilot project that will evaluate and assist underperforming veteran teachers.

 

It seems that all successful alcohol beverage legislation is sponsored by Republicans. One of Frank’s favorite bills — opening liquor stores on holidays — is sponsored by Democrat Rep. Patrice Arent. In defiance of tradition, the bill actually passed the House.

Read the full article HERE

Democratic Representatives Carol Spackman Moss and Patrice Arent

]]> http://www.utahhousedemocrats.org/deseret-news-names-some-courageous-democrats/feed/ 0 http://www.utahhousedemocrats.org/house-democratic-leader-announces-retirement/ http://www.utahhousedemocrats.org/house-democratic-leader-announces-retirement/#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:01:18 +0000 HouseDemocrats http://www.utahhousedemocrats.org/?p=2741

Outgoing- House Democratic Leader, Representative David Litvack (District 26)

Salt Lake City – Representative David Litvack, House Democratic Leader, announced today that he will not seek reelection this fall.

“I’ve spent a long time on Capitol Hill,” said Representative Litvack, “and it has been an honor. I’ve loved every single issue that I had a chance to get involved in and advocate for, but after 12 years in the Legislature it’s time to let someone else take the reigns so I can spend further time with my family.”

Representative David Litvack was first elected to the State Legislature in 2000, and has served as House Democratic Leader for the last 4 years.

“Working with Representative Litvack has been a joy,” said House Democratic Whip, Representative Jennifer Seelig.” His abilities as a legislator and a leader have created more successes for Democrats in Utah than most people will ever realize.”

“It has been a singular honor to serve next to this incredible man,” said Representative Brian King, House Democratic Assistant Whip, “he has been an honorable leader, a hard worker, and an impassioned advocate for Salt Lake City.”

“Representative Litvack will be sorely missed,” added House Democratic Caucus Manager, Representative Christine Watkins. “His leadership has been an inspiration.”

Representative Brian King (D)

Representative Brian King had an Op-Ed published in the Salt Lake Tribune this morning. He outlines the heavy problems in the Republicans’ Land-Grab bills, calling them a “get rich quick scheme.” Read it below!

As in past years, this general session of the Legislature has produced several bills aimed at taking control of land owned by the United States and transferring it to Utah state ownership. The bill sponsors assert that if Utah were to take over this federal land with the authority to drill it, mine it, and sell it off to corporations, enormous amounts of money to fund public and higher education would appear.

Unfortunately, this quixotic endeavor has many problems. The United States is not likely to go along with Utah’s efforts to wrest control of the nationally owned real estate within Utah’s borders. Success in this venture likely will come only at the hands of sympathetic federal court judges and will undoubtedly require U.S. Supreme Court approval.

Supporters of Utah’s quest assert that public lands litigation carries the distinct possibility, even the likelihood, of victory. And with that victory they believe our ability to fund — at much higher levels — state programs, including public and higher education, will be guaranteed.

So how likely is it that the federal courts will allow us to take over national forests, BLM lands and even national parks? Not very. Our Utah Constitution states that the “people inhabiting this State do affirm and declare that they forever disclaim all right and title to the unappropriated public lands lying within the boundaries hereof . …” Article III, Sec. 2.

The founding fathers of Utah gave up any claim to…

Read the full Op-Ed HERE

Rep Carol Spackman Moss (D)

Salt Lake City – Representative Carol Spackman Moss (D, District 37) joined Doug Fabrizio on NPR’s Radio West to discuss Republican efforts to pass laws forbidding teachers from discussing sex education. Listen below!

>>>> Click HERE To Listen <<<<

Rep Joel Briscoe (D)

Salt Lake City – Democratic Representative Joel Briscoe’s HB 291 passed out of committee this morning. The bill would move Utah a step further to burying all overhead power lines.

Wind storms, snow, trees, footballs.. all create dangers to neighborhoods with overhead power lines. Representative Briscoe is hoping that Utah can move a step further to burying the lines, with his HB 291 passing out of the House Public Utilities Committee this morning.

Rep Briscoe asked the Committee to recommend the issue be studied over the summer, and if passed by the full body, the issue will be studied further before the 2013 legislative session.

Rocky Mountain Power is supporting Representative Briscoe’s bill, saying in the Salt Lake Tribune:

Brad Shafer, government-affairs manager at Rocky Mountain Power, said cities often ask the utility to bury power lines. He said the utility would be happy to do so if the cities paid for it — but no mechanism has existed to fund such efforts.

Mr. Shafer also said that buried power lines tend to be more stable than overhead lines. As the Tribune noted that the newer neighborhood developments in Utah (ie Daybreak or Saratoga Springs) are already being built with buried lines.

Rep Brian Doughty (D)

Salt Lake City – Democratic Representative Brian Doughty (HD30) has introduced a bill designed to protect local governments from overreach by the Utah Legislature.

HB181 • A Salt Lake City Democrat unveiled a bill Monday that would make it more difficult for state lawmakers to overturn city or county laws.

HB181, sponsored by Rep. Brian Doughty, proposes a two-thirds threshold in both chambers of the Legislature for any bill that seeks to amend or repeal a political subdivision’s existing ordinance.

It comes toward the end of a session that has seen state lawmakers target a series of Salt Lake City initiatives, including restrictions on vehicle idling and electronic billboards.

Salt Lake City officials had input in the measure, considered, insiders say, to be a long shot in the Republican-dominated Legislature.

Read the full story HERE

Rep Patrice Arent (D)

Salt Lake City – Earlier today, the Utah House heard a bill (HB104) from Republican Representative Wayne Harper telling city governments they cannot ticket for idling. Representative Patrice Arent (D) says “Stop micromanaging cities!”

Despite arguments that it is trampling on cities’ powers, the Utah House approved a bill Friday designed to thwart Salt Lake City’s ban on excessive car idling.

After amending HB104, the House voted 42-28 to approve it and sent it to the Senate.

Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, the bill’s sponsor, complained that the city’s ordinance allows ticketing not only cars idling more than two minutes in public spots, but also those in private parking lots or driveways. “I think that’s abusive and a violation of property rights,” he said.

…

“Here we go again, micromanaging local government,” said Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Millcreek. “How many of you want this from the federal government? Every day we hear complaints about the federal government telling us what to do. This is not an egregious situation where the state government is to step in and tell a city how to manage its business.”

Full story here.

Representative Carol Spackman Moss (D)

Salt Lake City – Did you see the great editorial in the Salt Lake Tribune about the importance and necessity of Representative Carol Spackman Moss’s Teacher-Mentor Bill (HB115). Democratic common-sense continues rolling forward. Read it below!

Utah public schools have trouble keeping new teachers. Nearly half of all teachers just starting their careers leave the profession within the first five years.

That kind of turnover is expensive, and it hurts the quality of education schools are able to provide. Another alarming reality is that too many of the teachers who do stick with it are not effective or they become less effective as they continue teaching. Low pay in Utah is partly to blame for teachers quitting, but there are other reasons, too, including a feeling of isolation and lack of guidance to learn the craft and to continue improving skills throughout a career.

Thankfully, a bill making its way through the Legislature would go a long way toward addressing some of the most prevalent reasons for teachers leaving the classroom too soon and for the lack of professionalism among some who stay.

HB115 would provide funding for a pilot program called Peer Assistance and Review that would harness the expertise and experience of the best teachers and give them time to mentor new teachers and veterans whose work is not up to par. It has passed the House and is now in the Senate.

School districts would compete for…

Read the rest of the article HERE

Salt Lake City – House and Senate Democrats held a press conference today, responding to proposals by House Republicans on Utah public lands. Watch the video below!

Representative Joel Briscoe (D-25) pointed out today that the attempt by Republican Representatives Sumsion, Ivory, Herrod, Cox and Barrus to force the United States to relinquish title to lands they own within the state of Utah is “extremely concerning.”

“It has been pointed out by the legislature’s own attorneys and by constitutional scholars that this drive by Republicans to seize control of land owned by the United States may likely be unconstitutional, and the inevitable lawsuit is likely to fail, leaving Utah citizens out Millions in tax dollars which could have gone to vital help for citizens.” said Representative Joel Briscoe.

He continued, “Currently, Utah receives $1.7 Billion dollars a year in tourist revenue, ” but it is unlikely that much of that revenue would continue if Utah is allowed to drill on these lands, or sell them off to private corporations. “As Democrats, we place high value on the ability of our citizens to use their ATV’s, to go off-roading, horseback riding, hiking and camping. And we’re concerned about what would happen if the Utah Legislature had the power to sell off our open spaces to corporations who would fence them in.”

Senator Ben McAdams called the Republican proposals a “Bait and Switch.” Arguing that while Republicans are claiming that selling off public lands would fund education, it is highly unlikely that their bills would result in anything other than a decade-long lawsuit which would cost Utah millions in taxpayer money. “They said this morning [in the House Natural Resources Committee where the bills were heard] that these proposals could eliminate the Income Tax. Well if that’s their intention, then they aren’t even planning on putting any money into education anyway.”

Representative Brian King expressed concern that the Legislature is “wasting out time on this.” and that legislators are only “chasing mirages.” He says “the lawsuits [arising as a result of the legislation if the bills pass] would be expensive, not just time consuming, expensive. Chasing this dream of access to [United States-owned] lands instead of working out reasonable solutions for our neighborhood schools isn’t a good use of our time.”

House and Senate Democrats have already made sensible proposals this year in the Best Schools Initiative which would greatly increase the amount of funding for our neighborhood schools, without even raising taxes.