Were You Represented This Session?

Every Representative in the House, and half of the Senators are up for re-election this year. What did they do for you this session? What has their past record been? It's time for you to find out.

Google their name, look them up on the Utah Legislature page, check how they voted on bills that you felt strongly about, and make note if they have replied to your emails or concerns.

A Deseret News-KSL Poll done at the beginning of the session said 60 percent of Utahns cannot name their Senator and Representative. We each should not only know WHO represents us, we should now HOW. That information is readily available.

Most of those up for re-election will seek it. Most of those will also win. Some deserve another term, they have done well representing their districts, others not so much. Find out where your legislators fits, you have no excuses.

Numerous candidates have been declaring their intentions to challenge incumbents these past few weeks. As the session ends, we'll turn our attention to the coming election so each of us can vote informed come November.

Rundown

With less than a week to go in the session here is where many of the bills we have discussed lie:

Through the Legislature and on to the Governor:
HB 256 Jessica's Law for Sex Offenders
HB 286 Permanent Teacher License Revocation for Sexual Activity with Students
HB 327 Enticing a Minor by Electronic Means

These bills will probably not make it:
SB 14 Smoking Ban in Motor Vehicles With Kids Present
SB 173 Sen. McCoy's Renewable Energy Bill
HB 266 I.B. Program Increase in Funding

These bills are somewhere in between:
HB 140 Child Restraint Devices until Age 8
HB 194 Reduce Class Sizes K-3
HB 241 Repealing Instate Tuition for Illegal Immigrants
HB 326 Increasing CHIP Enrollment
HB 406 Raising Speed Limit in some areas on I-15
SB 37 Sports for Home-Schoolers
SB 93 Direct Entry Midwife Amendments
SB 35 More Pay for Math & Science Teachers
SB 180 $1,000 Regent's Scholarships

Most of the bills above I think will make it through. The big news the last couple days has been about the budget. It looks like teachers will get a $1700 increase, and the WPU will increase by 2.5 %, both short of what was aimed for in the beginning ($2500 for teachers, and Gov. Huntsman wanted a 7 % increase in the WPU).

The bill addressing Direct Entry Midwives went through 7 substitutions, before a compromise was finally reached. Both sides spoke in favor of the final bill in a House committee yesterday.

A substitute of HB 241 Repealing Instate Tuition of Illegal Immigrants has been submitted by the Senate sponsor. It is a much more 'compassionate' bill - fitting the immigration buzz word for the session.

If your children are home-schooled and you have been tracking the progress of SB 37, I think it may not have the support to make it through the House. Right now the bill is in the Rules Committee, to be either assigned out to a Standing Committee or die there.

We'll probably be driving faster on I-15 to St. George and buckling the kids in car seats until age 8. I'll let you know if these bills actually make it and when they will take effect if they do, it is usually on July 1.

Your Thoughts & Opinions

I love hearing from all of you, either through comments here, emails, or however else you grab my ear. Keep all the feedback coming, it makes it easier for me to write on what is important to you.

Speaking of what's important to you, here are a few interesting finds from the survey. The survey ranked bills from 1 (terrible) to 5 (terrific). Here are some of the averages.

You support the bills aimed at sex offenders, the highest ranked bills were HB 256 Jessica's Law for Sex Offenders and HB 286 Revoking Teacher's Licenses that Molest Children (both 4.82).

A lot of the bills fell in the 3 range:
SB 35 More pay for Science & Math Teachers (3.8)
HB 326 Expanding CHIP Enrollment (3.8)
SB 173 Sen. McCoy's Energy Bill (3.625)
SB 37 Sports for Home-Schoolers (3.6)
SB 180 $1,000 Regent Scholarships (3.43)
SB 14 Smoking in the Car with your Kids (3.4)
SB 327 HB 327 Sexting (3.17)

The following bills scored low:
HB 140 8 Year Olds in Car Seats (2.73)
SB 93 Restricting Babies Born at Home (2.36)
HB 241 Repeal of Instate Tuition for Illegal Immigrants (2.27)
HB 76 Privatization of Public Entities (2.1)

And the biggest loser was HCR 2 Ronald Reagan Day, which scored a 1.7

I tallied the most popular internet searches that landed people on this site, here are the top 3:
1. HB 241 Repealing Instate Tuition for Illegal Immigrants
2. SB 173 Sen. McCoy's Energy Bill
3. SB 93 The Direct Entry Midwife Bill

Utah's New Speedway

How fast is too fast on I-15? 80? 90? 95?

H.B. 406 from Rep. Dunnigan could increase the speed limit between Nephi and Cedar City to 80 mph. If the posted speed limit is 80, how fast will people drive? It seems generally acceptable to go 5-10 over the limit. Meaning, the new norm will be between 85-90. How safe does that sound? Cars may be safe at the speed, but I'd argue not all drivers are. Especially ones going long distances who are changing cds, eating, and trying to keep kids in the backseat happy. My favorite quote regarding this bill comes from Rep. Noel who argued,"There's going to be less accidents." Source Right. And less fatal ones too? One mistake at 90 mph would quickly prove tragic.

IB Program, Anti-American?

This week a bill that sailed through the House, hit a dead end in a Senate Committee through a claim by Sen. Dayton of anti-Americanism and promotion of the U.N. Agenda. HB 266 would increase funding for the International Baccalaureate(IB) program. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Carol Spackman Moss is trying to keep the bill alive by appealing to the Rules Committee for a new hearing. Source

Here are a few things I learned today about the IB program, judge it for yourself.

This statement is from the IB's official website:
"We encourage international-mindedness in IB students. To do this, we believe that students must first develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity. " Source

Clearfield High School has the IB program available, here is their explanation of the program:
"The International Baccalaureate is the most highly respected high school academic program in the world. Students graduating with an IB Diploma are given top consideration for scholarships and acceptance by colleges and universities both nationally and internationally. The program is a rigorous two-year course of study emphasizing both the sciences and humanities. It is designed with an international focus and encourages research, extracurricular involvement, creative development, and community service, as well as academic achievement. Its focus is the development of the whole person. The courses must be taken in the 11th and 12th grade years." Source

As far as college credit for the courses, the University of Utah's policy is this:
Students with an IB Diploma will receive 30 semester hours of General Ed or elective credits. The Diploma eliminates the General Ed requirements in science, fine arts, humanities, and social sciences. Gen Ed English will be waived for students with 5 or better on the English HL test. The waiver of math credits is based on the math taken and test score received. The American History Department requirement will not be waived. Without the full Diploma, students will be given 8 semester hours for every higher level IB test taken and passed with a score of 5 or better. Source

It is hard to believe that this program could be feared as indoctrinating. Frankly, it sounds better than the AP deal I did in high school. Just because a program is based outside the United States, just because it recognizes the importance of teaching more histories and cultures than our own, and just because it is different than what we did in high school - does not make it Un-American. I have always felt the more I learn about the world, the more grateful I am to live here in the U.S. This bill needs to be reconsidered.


On a side note: Sen. Christiansen's SB 190 requires all high school classrooms to have an American Flag and U.S. Constitution displayed. So these courses would be taught under the red, white & blue.

Is it over yet?

For the session only lasting 45 days, it sure seems to go forever. Thank goodness we don't have a full-time legislature!


With the session coming down to the end the real craziness begins. The budget still must be approved, as well as all those bills that are still floating around in various places. All the bills that originated in the House, must be through the House by the end of the week - same with the Senate.


There is still a lot that has not been addressed. Immigration bills are sitting all over the place, with Gov. Huntsman vowing to veto some of them. The promised Health Care reform, has become a task force to study the issue. Jessica's Law for sex offenders is headed to the governor's desk. Most education bills have been prioritized, but the final say on what will really get funded is yet to be determined.

That said, it is amazing the movement that happens this last week and a half. If you thought the Capitol was in a frenzy before, this week all the wheeling and dealing will take place as those desperate for their bills to move make some compromises. And don't get me wrong, maybe those compromises are what needed to be done to make an unworkable bill, workable.

Headed to the Capitol

This Friday I plan on spending my morning at the capitol. I haven't been since it has reopened, and also wanted to see a little of the action for myself. If any of you will be up there as well, let me know by emailing me at utahmomscare@gmail.com and we'll meet up.

Voting Present

The other night my husband and I were talking about the upcoming elections. While expressing his distaste for all the candidates involved, he asked, Can't I just vote present?

Speaking of wanting some real candidates to vote for, let's encourage some worthwhile candidates to run. We always want to vote for the best woman (or man), but those people never seem to run! All the members of the Utah House and half of the Utah Senate are up for reelection this year. As are numerous mayors and city councilors across the state. I agree with the sentiment posted under Who Now? which argued we need to be more informed about our state and local candidates than our national ones. I think we feel the most impact from our state and local government in our daily lives. So get working on those friends and neighbors who would make great city councilmen or mayors or legislators. The deadline to register as a candidate for many offices is March 17th.

As the election gets closer I'll try and keep you informed about debates and other ways you can educate yourself on the local issues.

Smaller Class Sizes

How many years now have we been hearing about class size reduction? Have you actually seen it in your kids school? Some schools have found ways to make it happen, but others have just tried to keep up with their enlarging enrollment. Rep. Morgan's HB 194 would give grants to schools to reduce class sizes in grades K-3. If those classes did not actually reduce in size, the school may be required to pay the money back. I like the idea of my kindergartener starting out the year with just 17 other kids in his class. It seems more manageable for a teacher. This week Legislators found out they have less money to allocate out than they thought. This program would cost around $26 million. We'll have to see if the talk about class size reduction really equates to it happening.

Take the 10 Second Survey

Click on the link to the left or here to take a 10 second survey on the bills we have discussed so far. Plus give any opinions you have on other pieces of legislation and this blog. (I'm serious about the 10 second part) I'll publish the results sometime in the future. Thanks! Utah Moms Rock!

Headed to 3rd Grade in a Car Seat

When Rep. Cosgrove's HB 140 passes all kids younger than 8 will need to be in a child restraint device. Whatever, it's fine. If it keeps my kids that much safer I am happy to do it, even if that means car pooling is a nightmare. It just makes me laugh, when we were headed to the third grade we probably were not even wearing seat belts! In fact, I probably rode a few times in the back of a truck. Gasp!

Good Legislators vs. Not So Good Legislators

I remember my first day as in intern at the Utah State Legislature. I felt intimidated by rubbing shoulders with those I had voted for, those I had seen on tv, those I had read about in the paper. I immediately felt small, and when I listened to many discuss issues I realized how little I knew about policy. But, soon the facade was lifted.


I sat outside a committee room waiting for my Representative to arrive. I was alone, except for the Sargeant of Arms doing his crossword, and another woman pacing up and down the hall. Soon another Representative appeared, obviously who the unidentified woman was waiting for. She rushed over and in a quiet but easily overheard voice handed him a copy of the committee's agenda. She then proceeded to tell him how he was voting on every bill that was to be presented in that meeting, and a very brief reason why. She gave him a copy of the agenda on which she had written her notes then sent him in to the meeting. As I sat through the meeting that morning in awe, this woman's wishes were carried out to a tee. (And no, the woman was not Gayle Ruzika and the Representative was actually a Democrat)


I learned a lot that day. After that I came to see the Utah Legislature more as it really was. It is a citizen legislature. I found that the majority of the legislators serving really were there because they were trying to help their constituents and to make the state be a better place. That they make mistakes, that they rely on others for information, that they are not always eloquent. Most had their egos in check and worked hard to understand the issues. But, as with every group, there were a few that stood out as rotten. Some just for their obvious political ambition, others for their personal agendas that bordered on extreme.


As I read about the controversy surrounding the comments made by Sen. Buttars this week, I felt like many, no surprise. The part I find most ashaming is not even the comment itself, which is clearly disturbing, but the reaction of our citizen Legislature. I would like to think that in this respect they don't represent us. That we, as Utahns, would not stay silent. West Jordan will get a chance this November to decide if Sen. Buttars gets to keep his job. Let's hope a worthy candidate will step up and run against Sen. Buttars and give West Jordan the representation that they deserve.

Where's Your Money Headed?

The Budget will still be tweaked, but here are a few things considered priorites on the appopriation sub-committees reports.

Utah's Schools
WPU (weighted pupil unit) increase of 3% (76 million on going)
Financial & Economic Literacy Education (100,000 on going & 150,000 one time)
Teacher's Supplies (10 million one time)
Charter School Funding (6 million on going)
UPSTART, a pilot project using home-based educational technology to ready preschool aged children for school (5 million on going, 2 million one time)
High-Ability Student Initiative Program (1 million on going, 2.8 million one time)

Utah's Arts
The Freedom Festival (300,000 one time)
Ballet West (500,000 one time)
Tuacahn (200,000 one time)
Museum of Natural Curiosity at Thanksgiving Point (1 million one time)

This, of course, is a very small glimpse at the budget. To check it out yourself here is the link to the Executive Appropriations Committee, look under Related Materials for the Sub-committee reports & priorities.

Pointless Education?

Yesterday HB 241 the bill repealing instate tuition for undocumented students who attended 3+ years of Utah public school passed the House of Representatives. If you'd like to see how your representative voted check here: http://le.utah.gov/~2008/status/hbillsta/hb0241.002h.txt
The bill was amended to not go into affect until September 2010.

Today in the Salt Lake Tribune Rep. Donnelson, the bill sponsor, is paraphrased as saying "there's no point in undocumented students going to college if they can't legally get jobs and might be forced to forge documents." Source

WHAT?!?! No point?? Here are my questions for you, Rep. Donnelson. If these students do not go to college, what do you think they will be doing? May they be 'forced to forge documents' either way? What if they stay in the U.S. and have children here? Those children will be Americans, would they be better off if their parent's are college educated? Do we want people in our country (here legally & illegally) to understand our language, our laws, our history? When does continuing education ever become pointless?

The issue of illegal immigration must be addressed. But this bill targets those that are doing their best with the situation they are in and is far from the solution. This bill especially is lacking in the compassion that local religious leaders, including Elder Ballard, have been imploring of the Utah Legislature.

Hump Day

It's day 23 of the 45 day session. Who will burn their white shirt? Maybe Rep. Donnelson could burn his shirt along with a state issued driving privledge card taken from an illegal immigrant. Just make sure it's a clean burn or The 'Real McCoy' may add this to his enery emission bill to be disallowed by 2025.

I still haven't been down to the Capitol to see the renovations and watch the action. If anyone wants to take themselves on a field trip with me one day, let me know.

Restricting Babies Born at Home

I'll admit it, I couldn't do it. I like having my babies in the hospital, surrounded by lots of medical professionals that can help out if an emergency should ever occur. I'll also confess that I like the drugs. I've never flinched at the epidural needle, in fact it has always been a welcome site. That being said, I still can recognize the want to have a baby at home. Instead of a group of nurses you've never seen before, a crowd of people you don't know present to watch you push and your baby whisked away after delivery to be examined; you get whoever you have asked to be present in the privacy of your own home. You get a lot more say in your care, without hospital procedures to fight against. You have the licensed direct entry midwife of your choice to oversee and give you personalized care.

Sen. Dayton, a former labor and delivery nurse, is sponsoring SB 93 that may restrict which babies can be born at home under the care of a licensed direct entry midwife. The bill would redefine what is considered a normal birth, and then consequently which births could take place at home with a licensed direct entry midwife assisting. The bill would forbid this type of midwifery in pregancies involving conditions such as pulmonary or renal disease, hypertension, diabetes, or genetic disorders. It would also prohibit women with a history of 3+ consecutive miscarriages, a stillborn, prior c-sections, or a past baby weighing less than 5 lbs. 8oz. or more than 9lbs. 14 oz. from a home birth. Source

The bill has been endorsed by the Utah Medical Association, but is being fought by licensed direct entry midwives who feel it is a direct threat to their livelihood. Sen. Dayton claims she is only trying to clarify the text, not end the practice. She ran a version of this bill last year, which was unsuccessful. The bill does not make changes to midwives that practice with a OB/GYN or deliver babies in a hospital. Interestingly, a midwife in a hospital cannot attend a breech delivery or a VBAC without a doctor's assistance, but a direct entry midwife can attend these type of deliveries alone in a private residence.

Sen. Dayton (mdayton@utahsenate.org) is working on a compromise version of the bill. If you'd like to add your thoughts on what you'd like the final bill to look like before it heads to the floor of the Senate, you may want to act now.

Who Now?

I am going to go ahead and make the assumption that most of you that read this blog voted for Romney, since the majority of Utahns voted for him. Now he's out, what are you thoughts on your remaining choices?

Will you vote for McCain? What if Huckabee is his running mate? We know that McCain called some of his supporters in the South and asked them to vote for Huckabee, marginalizing Romney. Does this effect your opinion? Or will you, as McCain's mother said you would, "hold your nose and vote for McCain"?

If you are LDS does this leave you feeling disenchanted with the Republican Party? Again and again we have heard this election that while we all know better than to make disparaging remarks about a Black president, or a woman one, it's been somehow okay to make Mormon's the punch line. It was Republicans who eliminated Romney, people of faith that voted against him.

Would any of you consider voting for Obama or Clinton now? Or even a third party candidate?

Let's hear your thoughts. Who now?

New Link

Below this post is a lengthy update on the bills we have discussed. For your convenience I have added a link on the left to Find Your Legislator. Now you have no excuses. If something below bugs you or you'd like to sing a bill's praise - get writing! If a bill is in the House, address it to your Representative, likewise bills in the Senate should be addressed to your Senator.

Remember, it's an election year. It's healthy for your Legislator to know that they are being watched and that you care.

Updates on your (least) favorite bills

There's still time to influence the political process. Here is where all the bills we've discussed thus far are down at the Dome.

SB 14 Smoking in the car with your kids (Sen. McCoy) - This bill made has made it all the way through the Senate, through a House committee and now sits on the House Calendar. The chances of it passing into law are still sketchy. It again begs the question, just because it is a bad idea, should it be against the law?

SB 35 More Pay for Science & Math Teachers (Sen. Stephenson) - Also has made it through the Senate and is currently assigned to a committee in the House. The UEA taken a position against the bill, not wanting to pit teachers against one another.

SB 36& 37 Extending Extra-curriculars to All Students (Sen. Madsen) - These two bills are still stuck in the Senate. You may want to make your voice heard to your own Senator if you want them to keep moving.

SB 41 Extending the School Year (Sen. Stephenson) - It made it through the Senate and is now starting the process in the House.

SB 145 State Family Day (Sen. Hickman) - Remember this bill, State Family Day to happen the Friday after Thanksgiving with of course then employees giving up their personal day. Turns out everyone down at the Senate thought the idea was as silly as we did. They had a few good laughs about it yesterday on the floor, and then shot the thing down for good.

SB 173 Energy Bill (Sen. McCoy) - The lovely Moms over at Utah Moms for Cleaner Air gave us a great summary of this bill. It is waiting on a fiscal note (this is an estimate of what the bill will cost). After that it will head to committee. A short note to your own Senator if you support this bill would still be relevant.

SB 180 $1,000 Scholarships (Sen. Hillyard) - It is off and moving now. I wrote about how I liked the idea of this bill, but wished that it went farther and covered Applied Tech Centers as well as 4 year universities. I sent those comments on to Sen. Hillyard, and maybe some of you did as well. The bill now includes the Utah College of Applied Technology. WA-HOO!

HB 75 & 76 Privatization of Government Owned Entitites, like Rec Centers (Rep. Frank) - It's just sitting in committee, let's hope it stays that way.

HB 133 Health Care Bill with CHIPs Provision (Rep. Clark) - They took the teeth out of this reform in the Health Care sytem. This bill now just creates a commission to decide how to move forward in the next few years. It is still being amended all over the place. Right now it's a confusing mess. I hope one of those amendments will address the provision disqualifying kids for CHIP whose parents are using UPP.

HB 241 Repeal of Instate Tuition for Illegal Immigants (Rep. Donnelson) - I'm holding my breath. It has stalled on the floor for now. It is going to be a close vote on the House floor. If this bill bugs you, like it bugs me, now is the time to shoot off an email.

HB 256 Jessica's Law (Rep. Wimmer) - The bill is clear through the House, and is sitting in a committee in the Senate.

HB 286 Revoking Licenses of Teacher's Who Molest (Rep. Wimmer) - Whizzed easily through the House and now makes it's way to the Senate.

HB 326 Expanding CHIP Enrollment (Rep. Curtis) - It's looking good, currently on the House floor to be debated.

HB 327 Sexting (Rep. Gibson) - Passed unanimously through a House committee, I expect it to do about the same when it arrives on the House floor.

HCR 2 Ronald Reagan Day (Rep. Morley) - Hmmmmm....it was yesterday. How did you celebrate?

WOW! We have covered a lot of stuff so far. If there is anything you've read in the paper, or heard about elsewhere that you wish we had covered, let me know. utahmomscare@gmail.com

Sexting

At 17 I sat at a computer in the front room with a cord running across the room into the kitchen to the nearest phone line to use a chat room on AOL. It was usually pretty harmless, every once in awhile someone saying something slightly crude or suggestive. But overall we spent our time in meaningless conversations about our favorite bands or our height, weight and hair color. Today's teens would laugh at the primitiveness of the experience. They no longer are tethered to a phone cord or even use chat rooms. They have MySpace, text messaging, and internet access all in their pockets. As parents we have to be aware that what connects our kids to their friends can also connect them to the unsavory.

For years we have been hearing about sexual predators targeting our kids on the internet. I hope all the ideas for keeping your kids safe on the internet have been applied in your homes. And that as parents you are vigilant in checking web histories and teaching your kids that if anything ever shows up on their screen that is pornographic in nature or just makes them uncomfortable to flip off the computer in that instant.

Times are changing again. With cell phones and text messaging predators have found a new way to reach our kids. This new practice of sexting has become increasingly popular. Luckily, Rep. Gibson (kwgibson@utah.gov) is acknowleding that rise in this behavior and is carrying a bill (HB 327) that will make it a crime to entice a minor with a text message to engage in an unlawful sexual act. It's a good bill, and one that will probably pass through both houses easily.

As parents we must take the time to check up on our kids. Read their MySpace and Facebook pages, review the pictures and text messages they have received and sent on their phones, and talk often about what is okay and what's not. I know you know, but it is always good to get a reminder that while we have good kids, they can still be influenced by the shmuck around them.

Have you voted yet today?

If not - GO! Right Now! The polls are open until 8. You have no excuses if you are registered to vote. Here's the link if you don't know where to go: http://gva1.utah.gov/elections/polling.aspx

Now grab your purse, get your kids loaded in the car, drive to your polling place and VOTE!

Repealing Instate Tuition for Undocumented Students

Okay, okay, I know that I am probably asking for it with this post, but it has got to be said.

Rep. Donnelson (gdonnelson@utah.gov) is sponsoring a bill this session (HB 241) to repeal instate tuition for undocumented students who attended three years of public high school in Utah. I agree that the states are being forced to act on the issue of illegal immigration. It is something that is in dire need of addressing and the federal government has demonstrated their ability to become paralized at even the mention of the issue. But that being said - this bill is far from addressing the root problems.

HB 241 penalizes kids. If a student attended school for three or more years here in Utah, it was far from their decision to come to the United States illegally. They were minors at the time. If the bill passes, the cost of tuition at a Utah university will more than double for them. What do we really want these 18 - 20 year olds doing? Do we want to raise a consciousness in them? Do we want them to become educated in our language, our government, our history, and learn life skills that will make them upstanding and self-sufficient members of our community? They already find themselves in difficult circumstances. They are dealing daily with the consequences of the choice their parents/guardians made to bring them here illegally. Let's not close one more door for these students. (TribuneOpEd)

Alright....I'm ready....let's hear it....

Super Tsunami Tuesday

Forget America's Top Model or picking the next American Idol. You can vote (without standard text messaging rates applying) on Tuesday for the ultimate Survivor - The Next American President. It has all the excitement of your favorite reality show, and just as many guest celebrity appearances. Here's what you need to know to participate in this year's Presidential Primary.


If you have not yet registered to vote, you are out of luck for Tuesday. If you are not sure if you are registered the best place to check is at http://www.utah.gov/government/elections.html and go to the link to Find Your Polling Place. This site can tell you where you need to show up on Tuesday too. If you are not yet registered to vote, do it now! There is another primary election coming up on June 24th. The mail in registration date for that primary will be 30 days before the election. Simply print off the form found on the above site, fill it out, make a copy of your drivers license and send it to your County Elections Clerk. Those addresses are found on the second page of the form you print. If you have any questions, send me an email.


When you arrive at the polling place on Tuesday you will be presented with some options. The Republicans Primary is closed, meaning if you are not registered as a Republican on your voter's application, you must change your voter affiliation at the polling place to vote in their primary. The Democratic Primary is open, you can be unaffiliated with a party or a registered Democrat to vote in it.


Now, who are you voting for? On both parties' ballots, candidates will appear that have dropped out of the race. For example, you could still vote for Guiliani or Edwards. Those votes will not mean much since they are no longer in it. Do some research of your own to find your personal favorite. If you are totally clueless on even who to look at, take this 36 question quiz at http://www.electoralcompass.com/ As always, realize that there is no such thing as an unbiased source. Read, read, read and then judge for yourself. There is no perfect candidate. Decide what you value most, and vote for the candidate who is most aligned with you on those priorities.


There are 20 states voting this Tuesday. Every state will divy up their delegates differently. In Utah the Republican party is a winner take all contest. Whoever gets the most votes, gets all of the delegates. The Democratic Party will divide up the delegates proportionatly to the number of votes each candidate gets. So as always, every vote counts.


I hope this helps, I know that I have received a lot of questions this past week. If there something I have not covered that you want to know more about, let me know.


Happy Voting!

Utah Moms for Cleaner Air - Helping you Breathe Easier

I have been hearing about SB 173 on Renewable Energy, but felt unqualified to explain it. I asked someone from Utah Moms for Cleaner Air to give us a brief summary of the bill and a little about their organization. If you have any questions, feel free to post them here and we'll get them answered as best as possible. And now, here's Travis Harvey, co-founder of Utah Moms for Cleaner Air:


Utah currently generates 95% of its electricity from coal-fired powerplants. Along with electricity, these plants produce tons and tons of health-damaging air pollution, including fine particulate matter, nitrous oxides, and mercury. The health effects of these pollutants are grave, including asthma, heart disease, and early death. To address the serious health effects of air pollution, Utah must diversify its energy production and choose clean sources of energy. Legislation is needed to level the uneven playing field of the energy industry to encourage the growth of the renewable energy industry.

Senator Scott McCoy (D) of Salt Lake is sponsoring Senate Bill 173, a Renewable Energy Provisions bill. This bill specifies that Utah's utilities must generate 25% of our energy from renewable sources by 2025, with numerous interim targets in the intervening years to keep utilities on target and allow Utahans to see the numerous benefits of renewable energy as soon as possible. By producing more of our electricity from renewable sources we will be improving our air quality, diversifying our energy supply, improving Utah's economic outlook, and moving Utah into the future.

There is a competing bill sponsored by Senator Curt Bramble (R) of Provo that is written by Rocky Mountain Power (RMP), the largest electric utility in the state. This bill masquerades as a Renewable Portfolio Standard by proposing 20% renewable energy generation by 2025. However, the bill specifies no interim targets and defines renewable energy so broadly as to include patently non-renewable sources like coal-fired power plants using carbon dioxide sequestration (but still producing tons of other health damaging pollutants). This bill, because written by RMP, protects the utility and discourages free-market competition. It is not good for rate-payers or competing renewable energy producers. The bill, as currently written, is not a true Renewable Portfolio Standard and will hold Utah back in the competitive energy industry for years to come.

Senate Bill 173 is the "Real McCoy" when it comes to Utah's renewable energy future. It has the potential to truly move Utah away from heavy reliance on polluting coal and toward clean energy. To support this bill, please contact your senator and representative and tell them to support SB 173 and encourage their colleagues to do the same.

To get involved with Utah Moms for Clean Air, please visit our website [http://www.utahmomsforcleanair.org/]. You can click on our Legislation link [http://www.utahmomsforcleanair.org/legislation/] to learn more about legislation affecting Utah's air quality. You can join our group and receive email updates and action alerts by clicking on the "Subscribe to our newsletter" link [https://app.expressemailmarketing.com/Survey.aspx?SFID=38795]. There are manyways citizens can get involved in cleaning up our air, from individual voluntary actions you can take to lessen your own impact, to volunteering with our organization, to writing letters to legislators. We'll keep you informed about it all.