Weekly Update – 03/08/15

Here we go into the home stretch!  On “Music Day on the Hill” I got to meet both Thurl Bailey and Neon Trees.

As I suggested last week, most of the “big work” is still not done, and I will be absolutely interested to see how much of it we can really get done well in the final four days.  Here’s a re-cap of the major topics that are left undone.

Budget

I feel confident that we have put forward a good working document for a State Budget. I am excited about the prospect of $104 million going straight to local districts through the Weighted Pupil Unit.  I was wishing and hoping for something closer to $150M, but was afraid it would be even less. The final budget will not be passed until the final night, so please stay engaged and watch for next week’s post-session wrap.

Health Care for the Most Vulnerable

We haven’t had much political drama at all this session and the process has been allowed to work. I was really disappointed that a small group of legislators decided to resort to political shenanigans to try to thwart the will of the majority this week. As predicted, it turned out to be nothing more than a waste of precious time and has probably made it harder for true compromise to happen.  Anyway, enough about the politics. What is actually happening?

The Senate put forward a proposal to expand Medicaid that did not have support in the House from the moment it arrived and it failed in committee. The House put forward a proposal to cover some of the lowest income adults with Medicaid and fill in the rest of the gap with a limited benefit plan.  The House plan was sent to the Senate for their consideration, so the ball is in their court.  My political crystal ball seems to be on the blink, so I can’t tell you what will end up happening.

Insider Note: I have not yet read an accurate article in the news media on this issue.  It’s amazing how much influence certain groups have to get only their side of the story published. If you want to really know what’s going on (without the spin) please ask me.

Anti-Discrimination

This is the unexpected big topic. As you may have heard, last week the LDS Church announced its support for SB296(http://le.utah.gov/~2015/bills/static/SB0296.html).  This bill attempts to strike a balance between anti discrimination and religious freedom in housing and employment.  It has passed the Senate and is coming to the House this week. I will have to vote on this bill soon and would really have preferred to have time to discuss it in detail with the district but that cannot happen.  I am seeking the input of my constituents on how to proceed, but time is of the essence as the vote could happen quickly.

Gas Tax?

Yet another unresolved issue has to do with transportation funding reform.  There are multiple options, including raise the cents per gallon, restructure the formula or look for other ways to fund future transportation needs.

State School Board Elections

Oh boy.  The Senate passed a bill switching us to partisan elections.  The House voted it down and passed a bill switching us to non-partisan open elections.  The House also voted down a Governor-appointed model.  My bill is off the table for the time being.  I wonder if we will even have time to come up with a compromise given how far apart we are.  Never say die!

My Bills

The vast majority of the bills I have read do virtually nothing.  The really helpful bills have been the result of months or years of work and negotiations.  So, it should be no surprise that it’s virtually impossible to bring any really significant bills in your first year and get enough attention to get something meaningful done.  That said, I feel like I did at least raise some significant questions about the organization of public education leadership in the state, including the Legislature, the State Board of Education and local districts and charter schools. I am hopeful that there will be plenty of opportunity to further these discussions over the summer.

Final Week Contact

During this final week, I hope you will reach out to contact me.  The best way is always by e-mail.  Make sure to include your name & address at the top of the e-mail so I know that you are from District 64 and can prioritize a reply.