Press Release

Rep Doughty Says State Employees Deserve Freedom & Choice With Their Insurance

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Feb 4, 2012

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

Utah House Passes Democrat’s Emergency Contact Law

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Feb 3, 2012

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.

Democratic Lawmaker Announces New Approach To Teachers

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Feb 2, 2012

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?”

House Democrats Thank Federal Government For New Disaster Aid

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Feb 1, 2012

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 1, 2012

House Democrats Thank Federal Government For New Disaster Aid
________________________________________________________________________

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

_

LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION SELECTED

Posted by Utah House Democrats on Jul 1, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 1, 2010

For more information, contact Ric Cantrell, Chief Deputy of the Utah Senate
Office: 801-538-1407Cell: 801-647-8944

LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION SELECTED

SALT LAKE CITY – Today, legislative leaders announced appointments to the Ethics Commission, created this year in a package of reform bills. The new five member commission will consist of a retired Supreme Court Justice, former Appeals Court Judge, former District Court judge and two distinguished former legislators.

The following have accepted the invitation to serve on the new commission:

* Michael Wilkins, recently retired Justice of the Utah Supreme Court and former judge on the Utah Court of Appeals.

* Russell Bench, retired judge who served on the Utah Court of Appeals and on the Judicial Conduct Commission.

* Jon Memmott, recently retired from the bench in Utah*s 2nd District Court, who previously served as Governor Bangerter*s legal counsel and as director of the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.

* Gayle McKeachnie, a rancher, practicing attorney, former legislator, and former Lieutenant Governor of the State of Utah.

* Joanne Milner, former legislator and community advocate, currently serving as the Education Partnership Coordinator for the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office.

This new commission is tasked to investigate allegations of ethical breaches within the state legislature, patterned after the work of Judicial Conduct Commission.  Any allegation they find to be supported by a preponderance of evidence will be made public and forwarded to the House or Senate Legislative Ethics Committee for a public hearing.

Legislative leaders have high hopes for the commission.

"This is the genesis of a more open approach to ethics hearings.  The commissioners carry a broad spectrum of expertise in law, judicial investigations, and the legislative process that provides the insight they will need." said Michael Waddoups, President of the Utah Senate."Each one of them has a reputation for honesty and fairness.  Our goal is to ensure the light of open government continues to shine on the  state of Utah."

Speaker of the House, Dave Clark said, "The Utah State Legislature has spent incredible time and energy scrutinizing the rules by which we govern ourselves.  We are in the process of quietly transforming the very culture in which we work. This commission is a key element of that larger effort."

Patricia Jones, Senate Minority Leader said, "This new commission will pioneer the processes and precedents of legislative ethics investigation work.  Ideally, they will have very little to do.  If issues arise, however, this is a competent, fair-minded team who will do the job right."

House Minority Leader David Litvack added, "We believe our actions are responsive to the will of the people we represent.  We want to provide greater accountability for our behavior, better transparency in our work, and a state government that inspires citizens instead of disappointing them."

The Ethics Commission was created by resolution as a legislative rule. In November, voters will decide if this commission will be permanently enshrined and protected in the Utah State Constitution.

House of Representatives Minority Leader David Litvack, D–Salt Lake City, issues statement on Lieutenant Governor Pick

Posted by Utah House Democrats on Aug 5, 2009