Tag Archives: politics

Hill Happenings

Yesterday’s Utah Legislative Report Summary
Articles in published in today’s Utah newspapers about the Yesterday’s Utah Legislature news:

Salt Lake Tribune
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Legislature Briefs
A day on the Hill
Bill banning gay clubs from Utah high schools pulled from a Senate committee
Minority, women business bill OK’d Tracking: Measure may keep Utah from losing millions of dollars in federal contracts
Bill that would outlaw smoking in clubs advances
Women’s ‘pill bill’ dies again
Contraception: Planned Parenthood director tells lawmakers to provide ‘health care that eliminates the need for abortion’

Media: Contact law is overkill HB258: The BlackBerry bill is ending up limiting all types of public access
Evolution bill survives by a vote: Critic asks why lawmakers are telling teachers how to teach
Budget battle brews on Hill: Despite a huge surplus, look for a war of wills over how much to spend

Deseret News
Origin of life bill survives
Noncompete clauses for MDs may see limits
Cannon wants state control of tuition costs: Issue of in-state fees and immigrants on his agenda
Stance on contraceptives frustrates activist: She says lawmakers sending mixed messages this session
Property-tax shift clears House panel
System would track minority businesses
House panel backs a smoking ban: Measure targeting bars, private clubs passes in 6-1 vote
Panel passes 5-day week for building inspectors
Senate panel approves street-racing measure
Measure would halt city, county cell-phone bans
Panel OKs bill on bonds for those seeking N-stays
Bill advances on skipping graduation requirements
Senate OKs measure tightening seat-belt law
Senate committee OKs bill on contact lenses

All you Young Republicans: Uncle Sam wants you – sign up!

Part of the Plan has a very sound piece of advice to a group of teenagers who recently formed the Lone Peak Teenage Republicans.

The bottom line is: Walk the talk!

Where Was Orrin?

First I arrived. Then two more people. Then two more. Then two more. All together there were 7 of us. There was no flurry of activity nor were there people headed into the dinner to honor Orrin Hatch for his political service to Utah. I had been told that the event had been publicized in Utah Policy.

We walked around both the Little America and Grand America Hotels and could find no indication of an Orrin Hatch event. One person, Julian Hatch (Green Party of Utah candidate for U.S. Senate) went into the Grand America and Paul went into the Little America Hotels to inquire as to where the Orrin Hatch dinner was. No one had any record of it.

Dang. They must have heard we were coming. And we had some nice homemade nut cakes, too!

We considered roaming the streets and making a video called “Orrin and Me” – in search of Orrin Hatch, but we decided to save our energies, newly made posteres, fliers and nutcakes for tomorrow night’s regular weekly sidewalk vigil instead. Maybe next time.


The only republican-looking person among us, Paul, took off his bike helmet and combed back his hair in preparation to walk inside the Little America Hotel to inquire about the dinner for Orrin Hatch.

Here we are, prepared for our “nutcakes” rally:
Brighide, Pete, Deanna, Eileen, Julian (Paul and Shea had left)

So, where was Orrin?
He was in Utah County, where the Utah County Republicans had their Lincoln Day Dinner, at which Orrin Hatch was present. **That’s** where he was!
(I searched Utah policy and found that the dinner had been publicized once on January 20 for a February 21 dinner. Looks like we were given the wrong date.)

Invite Orrin to Retire

Be sure to invite U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah to retire at tonight’s Nutcakes Rally.

Having run on a platform that included advocating term limits, Hatch has broken his initial pledge to serve for only two terms. 30 years later, Hatch, now 72, is still in office.

The gig was up a long time ago. Nutcakes unite!

S.B. 70 – Envirocare….continued

The fight to keep Envirocare from expanding its toxic waste facility continues with Utah S.B. 70.

HEAL Utah has issued another call for volunteers to help educate people on this issue. You can find out more at Progrossive Utah.

You can see how Utah senators voted on this bill. There are three weeks left in the Legislative Session and HEAL is asking people to work over the next two weeks to stop this bill. “Envirocare has just raised the stakes even higher with their recent mergers and acquisitions of nuclear waste handling companies.”

Hill Happenings

Yesterday’s Utah Legislative Report Summary
Articles in published in today’s Utah newspapers about the Yesterday’s Utah Legislature news:

Salt Lake Tribune
Legislature: Short takes
Senate OKs an increase in damages
Sticklers for Parental Consent
State workers’ raises in doubtLawmakers cite fight over retirees’ benefits
Voting only for citizen: Illegal immigrants: Senate panel advances fraud-prevention plan

Deseret News
Approve kindergarten option (Editorial)
Utahns’ tax cut may grow
Legislators looking to cut hunting age: They want kids to drop video games and spend time exploring nature
Resolution condemns land-use, zoning bill: Provo City Council expects other cities to oppose SB170
Younger drivers may be on road soon
Tied House vote kills business tax-cut plan: Failure seen as a rejection of Utah task force efforts
Registering to vote could require ID: Legislation would ensure only citizens cast ballots
“in loco parentis” bill placed on later agenda for comment
Tighter seat belt law moves on for final approval
Senate gives its preliminary OK to watered-down bill on ’17th’
House doesn’t support a raise of the animal-torture penalty
Measure allowing golf carts pushes through House panel
Bill that would further protect abuse victims in custody issues passes House committee
Measure to fund prevention, education about underage drinking clears committee
Fund-raising efforts to help Southern Utah flood victims reported to lawmakers
Committee praises state health director, recommends pay raise

“Nutcakes” Rally – Orrin Hatch to be honored

Orrin Hatch will be “honored” for his 30 years of service as U.S. Senator in Utah Wednesday, February 8 at 7pm at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

Hatch first ran on a platform of “term limits”.

Hatch called the thousands of demonstrators “nutcakes” at a rally when Georg W. Bush was in town in August.

To let party-goers know how much we peace advocates appreciate Mr. Hatch’s sentiments, we are going to hold a “nutcakes for peace” rally outside the hotel and distribute “Orrin’s Favorite Nutcakes Recipe”.
On the back of the recipe card will be a list of upcoming rallies and other events.
Julian Hatch, Green Party of Utah candidate for U.S. Senate, will be on hand to help deliver the message:

Orrin’s Favorite Nutcakes Recipe

1 part free speech
1 part free thinking
1 part courage
Mix well.
Bake until “democracy” appears.
Enjoy!

Response to Rep. Mike Noel’s Nuke Research Amendment

My good friends and activist colleagues Pete Litster and Eileen McCabe-Olsen wrote a repsonse to the amendment to HB46 for nuclear energy research by Representative Mike Noel. Pete is the Executive Director and Eileen the Associate Director of Shundahai Network in Salt Lake City, an organization dedicated to breaking the nuclear chain through its lobbying and direct action efforts. Shundahai specifically works with indigenous groups to provide a voice against the ongoing development of nuclear projects.

Noel is wrong about nuclear energy’s safety
By Eileen McCabe-Olsen and Pete Litster

We were appalled to learn that Rep. Mike Noel’s amendment specifically advocating research into nuclear energy has been attached to HB46. While it is commendable that the House wants to explore alternative energies, nuclear power is not a credible alternative energy source. It is an immature technology that should be discontinued, not expanded in commercial use.
Noel cites that “nuclear energy is clean and it is safe.” Neither is true. While nuclear power production does not emit greenhouse gases during its generation, it produces tons of toxic waste, for which there is still no acceptable storage or detoxification solution. Further, unlike coal, which is readily usable after being mined, uranium must be processed through several steps — milling, conversion to uranium hexafluoride, enrichment and fuel rod assembly — before it can be used in a reactor. All of these steps consume energy produced by conventional sources that do emit greenhouse gases.
Continue reading

Hill Happenings

Yesterday’s Utah Legislative Report Summary
Articles in published in today’s Utah newspapers about the Yesterday’s Utah Legislature news:

Salt Lake Tribune
SHORT SESSIONS
Can kids go from pre-K to full day? HB107 advances: Education panel says they can, and some should
Cities keep dukes up as Mansell retools–SB170: Council members will vote on resolutions opposing the measure
Bill may widen the definition of the term “assistance animal”
Peyote limit advances in Senate HB60: The judiciary panel approved the bill that would restrict the drug’s use to federally recognized Indian tribes
Panel seeks bounty on mercury devices
Democrats’ budget close to governor’s
Revised bill would leave ambulance service decisions to local governments

Deseret News
Noel is wrong about nuclear energy’s safety (Opinion)
Big makeover for U.S. 6? Measure faces battle in Utah House over bonding
Kindergarten bill offering full-day option advances
House backs nonpartisan regents board
Alpine defends math classes
Public education is atop Democrats’ budget priorities: Proposal also focuses on services for the poor and disabled
Youths take stand against alcohol, dating violence
Cities boost land-use opposition
Archaeologist’s office may be moved
Measure addresses S.L. ambulance dispute
Correction: HB90
Bishop lauds accomplishments over HAFB, nuke-waste issue
Juvenile sex offender registry is nearing a final passage
Senate committee passes bill that clarifies the use of peyote

Hill Happenings

Yesterday’s Utah Legislative Report Summary
Articles in published in weekend and today’sUtah newspapers about the Yesterday’s Utah Legislature news:

Salt Lake Tribune
Change of oversight: Proponents say the proposal would expedite energy development
Bill riles medical mistake victims
Protecting ER doctors: A lawmaker wants to make it tougher for patients to win lawsuits

Legislature tries to grab more power Proposed laws: Several bills being considered give state lawmakers more say

Deseret News
Tuition vote angers students: Panel recommends repeal of law allowing immigrants in-state fees
Residents push funds for health
Conflicts of interest come with the territory
GOP ‘poking’ at Yocom: Measures would limit the county official’s power and advisory role
GOP legislators team up outside the House