Source: Deseret News Having been a member of the Utah State Board of Education during what was perhaps its most “rocky period,” 1976-1984, I am, of course, always interested in USBE news and the many issues and accomplishments of this important body. I was surprised and very concerned when our Utah Legislature passed SB78, State Board
Source: KCPW Today is the last day of the 2016 meeting of state lawmakers. Today on our Better Utah Legislative Update, KCPW’s Roger McDonough speaks with Chase Thomas and Matt Lyon from Alliance for a Better Utah about last-minute funding for various legislative priorities, and at at what happened to measures to reform the so-called
Source: KCPW On today’s Better Utah Legislative Update we hear from Chase Thomas, Policy and Advocacy Director with Alliance for a Better Utah about the budgeting process, appropriations, an attempt to undo the so-called Count My Vote elections compromise, and an effort to reform the make-up of a couple of legislative committees. Listen to KCPW
In Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, the Supreme Court today upheld an Arizona ballot initiative that established an independent redistricting commission.
As the 2015 Legislative Session comes to a close, one thing is abundantly clear: Legislators don’t care what voters think. Whose thoughts, exactly, do they care for? Donors? Delegates? We may never know for sure, but we do know that despite overwhelming public support or opposition on several key issues, lawmakers are ignoring the will
Salt Lake City — Despite majority support for the electoral reforms enacted through the Count My Vote Compromise, some Utah legislators are continuing their attempts to gut the compromise. The latest attempt, HB313, was heard in the House Government Operations Committee today. The bill would allow party bosses to override the will of the people
Senator Jenkins’ attempt to delay the implementation of the Count My Vote compromise is dead as of Tuesday. The Senate voted down a third hearing of SB43 yesterday in a 9-19-1 vote. SB43 bill would have delayed the Count My Vote reforms until 2018. In discussions prior to the vote, Republican Senator Todd Weiler gave a powerful
Salt Lake City — The Utah Republican Party is running out of tricks in its efforts to halt the widely backed Count My Vote compromise. A House committee rejected a bill today by Rep. Fred Cox that would have delayed implementation of SB54, the Count My Vote compromise, while the Utah GOP mounts its lawsuit.
Public oversight plays an important role in government ethics, but the public shouldn’t have to do all the policing. Public officials should enact moral and lawful restrictions that prevent dishonest officials from corrupting the democratic process. As it has been in years past, ethics is a hot topic during the 2015 session. The burner under
Salt Lake City — The Senate Government Operations Committee met today to hear two controversial bills, both sponsored by Sen. Scott Jenkins, that are aimed at gutting the popular Count My Vote reforms. SJR2 and SB43 passed favorably out of committee along partisan lines, with Republicans voting for the measures. Alliance for a Better UTAH
