Tag: lds church

The secret to standing up to a conservative supermajority is on display in… Utah?

This article originally appeared in Mother Jones. Read it in its entirety here. At 4 o’clock on a Thursday afternoon, the lobby of Dragonfly Wellness is almost completely full. Clients perch expectantly on the lobby sofas, waiting to be buzzed through the locked door marked PATIENTS ONLY. This might not be an unusual scene elsewhere—medical marijuana is legal in more than 30 states—but this happens to

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Utah’s Grand Bargain on Medical Marijuana: Will It Work?

This article originally appeared on Leafy. Read it in its entirety here.  On the morning of Oct. 4, a number of Utah politicians, religious leaders, medical patients, and representatives from the Libertas Institute, a libertarian think tank, gathered before a packed audience in the Utah State Capitol’s ornate gold room. The group had gathered to

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From a Person of Faith to the Legislature

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Faith leaders throughout the state joined together to sign a letter in regards to S.B. 86, “Victim Selection Penalty Enhancement,” sponsored by Sen. Thatcher. They urged legislators to support the legislation, emphasizing the need for Utah to remain a place of safety and refuge for all groups of people. The list of signatories includes leaders

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Senate passes tax bill, Johnson Amendment repeal uncertain

Source: BYU Daily Universe The Senate voted to pass the largest tax overhaul in more than three decades in a 51-47 vote on Dec. 5. However, the Senate bill differed from the version of the bill passed in the House of Representatives in November by excluding new legislation to repeal the Johnson Amendment. The House

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Does Utah’s Far-Right Legislature Reflect Poorly on the LDS Church?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Authored by Jeff Swift, ABU Board Member  I am tired of one-party control in Utah. It’s getting pretty old. In fact, it’s been old for a long time, even before Republicans slashed taxes on the wealthy and set the stage for our current education crisis. One-party control has led to a tepid response to a

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LDS Church influence on Utah lawmakers subtle but significant

Source: Fox 13 SALT LAKE CITY — Ten minutes. That’s the time it takes to walk from the Utah State Capitol to the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A forum at the Hinckley Institute of Politics sponsored by the Alliance for a Better Utah discussed the influence of the religion on

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ABU Update: Challenge for Hate Crimes Bill, Air Quality Contributions

Source: KCPW St. George Republican Sen. Stephen Urquhart’s measure to strengthen hate crimes legislation in Utah hits a snag – in the form of LDS Church opposition. Plus, a proposal to let residents contribute money to the Utah Division of Air Quality. Alliance for a Better Utah’s Chase Thomas joins KCPW’s Roger McDonough for another

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ABU Update: Medical Marijuana and Zion Curtains

Source: KCPW For today’s Better Utah Legislative Update, a look at the shifting conversation in Medical Marijuana in Utah. After meeting with opposition from the LDS Church, one lawmaker says he’ll now try to get a measure on the ballot. Also, a look at an effort to eliminate Utah’s so-called “Zion Curtains.” Listen to KCPW

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We can end discrimination against LGBT Utahns

Yesterday a few fellow students and I spent the afternoon working with Equality Utah to inform Westminster students about the need for a bill to protect LGBT Utahns from housing and employment discrimination. I was surprised to see how many of my friends, who are politically informed individuals, did not know that you could be

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