Legislative Wrap Up 2008

At the beginning of the 2008 legislative session Utah House Democrats set specific goals that we had hoped to accomplish during this year’s session.  Education, the environment and health care system reform were at the top of our list as items that we felt were most important to the residents of Utah and to the constituents we represent. 

Education
The legislature gave $239 million in new money to education, which included a pay increase of $1700 for every teacher in the state and additional money for performance bonuses and other incentives.

“Overall, we are pleased with how the budget process came together this session.  However, our preference in the education budget would have been to put the available new revenues toward the WPU,” said Minority Leader Brad King.

Democrats passed and supported several pieces of legislation for public education this session.  

HB3251S Bullying and Hazing
Representative Carol Spackman Moss sponsored and passed HB3251S, which would require school districts to craft bullying and hazing policies or alter current policies to define terms and consequences for bullying.  Many school districts already have bullying and hazing policies in place but the measure would set general parameters for a school's policy while leaving most of the details up the local school leaders.  “The bottom line is we want our kids to be in a safe environment at school and every parent should be able to expect that,” said Moss.

HB 266 Accelerated Learning Program Revisions
Ongoing funding was allocated for the International Baccalaureate Program (Representative Carol Spackman Moss).  “This outstanding college-preparatory curriculum currently gets no state funding, unlike advanced placement or gifted and talented programs,” said Moss.  “This boost in funding will assist in training teachers and strengthening the IB program.”  Currently, seven high schools and one middle school have IB programs.   

HB 330 State Supplemental Funding for Head Start
Head Start programs across the state also saw an additional boost in funds this year. (Representative Lou Shurtliff)  These funds will provide additional slots for children who are currently on a 900 child waiting list.  “Head Start has never received state funding,” said Representative Shurtlif. There are seven Head Start programs in the state.  Utah does not sponsor a pre-k program.  

HB 234  Kindergarten Assessment Amendments
Representative Lou Shurtliff also passed a bill that encourages Rep schools to schedule the kindergarten readiness assessment early enough before the kindergarten starting date so that a parent has time to develop the child's needed skills as identified by the assessment. 

HB118 Veterans High School Diplomas
Representative Lynn Hemingway successfully sponsored and passed a bill that would allow a board of education of a school district to award an honorary high school diploma to a veteran who left high school before graduating to serve in the armed forces of the United States and served in the armed forces of the United States during the period of World War 17 II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War.

Other introduced bills included Lynn Hemingway’s Teacher Loan Program, which would create a loan program for Utah Teachers who want to buy a home but who may not have been able to save enough money to qualify for a home loan.  Hemingway’s bill passed the House.  Hemingway has promised to bring the bill back in the 2009 session. 

A classroom reduction funding proposal (Karen Morgan, D-Salt Lake City) also passed unanimously in the House of Representatives but was not included in the all-inclusive education funding bill (SB 2).   Representative Morgan vowed that she will not give up the fight for class size reduction.  “Class-size reduction is the most important thing we can do for education in our state,” said Morgan. “I will continue to work toward providing that for these little ones in the most overcrowded kindergarten, first, second and third grade classrooms.”

Representative Larry Wiley introduced HB 162, which requires a seismic evaluation of all public schools using specified standards, creates a public school seismic safety committee for a certain period of time, requires the public school seismic safety committee to determine a threshold score on the seismic evaluation, and requires the State Board of Education to adopt administrative rules.  “Retrofitting our public schools is something we need to take very seriously,” said Wiley.

The Environment

House Democrats were encouraged when Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. made the issue of Utah air quality a feature of his State of the State and are in full support of Huntsman's efforts on behalf of environmental issues.  Democrats successfully passed the following bills that will have a favorable impact on Utah’s environment.

HB 303 Phosphorus Limit in Dishwashing Detergent 
Representative Christine Johnson sponsored and passed HB303 which will prohibit the sale of household dishwasher detergent that contains 0.5 percent or more phosphorus by weight in its ingredients.  "We have to start paying more attention to air quality, to water quality — we have to start preserving our pristine environment, so let's start and not delay any longer," Johnson said in an interview.

HB146 School Bus Amendments
Representative Christine Johnson Sponsored and passed a Clean School Bus Grant Program, which allocates matching funds for grants awarded by the US EPA to local school districts for the purchase or retrofit of clean school buses, and places restrictions on idling school buses near schools.

HB0106S01 Clean Air and Efficient Vehicle Tax Incentives 
Representative Roz McGee sponsored and passed a bill that provides a tax credit for new vehicles meeting air quality and fuel economy standards and exempts clean fuels from taxes on motor fuels and special fuels.  It would also create an 8.5 cent alternative fuel tax collected at the pump.

Larry Wiley’s State Facility Water Conservation program passed the House of Representatives but did not make it to a senate hearing.  This bill would have created a State Facility Water Conservation Program to provide guidelines, procedures, and design and construction standards to improve water conservation at state facilities.  "This is really a ‘lead by example’ bill," said Wiley. 

Health System Reform

Early in the legislative session members of the Republican caucus introduced HB133, a comprehensive bill aimed at reforming Utah’s health care system.  “We were looking forward to the governor’s proposal of bold and visionary health system reform, and were ready to move forward with meaningful solutions.  Hopefully, a task force will not just set us back another year in an already overdue and multi-year process,” said Minority Leader Brad King in a statement.  Although House Democrats had initial concerns over an early provision in the bill that could have disqualified children from the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) if their parents qualify for state subsidies to pay for private insurance, leaders in the house and senate were able to make adjustments that were satisfactory to all parties  “We have an important role as loyal opposition ... to maintain balance ... and make sure the difficult questions are asked,” said King.  “We were pleased that majority leadership worked with us and other members of the legislature to address this concern and create a better bill.”

House Bill 133 establishes a framework for the development and implementation of a strategic plan for health system reform.  The bill creates a multi-year reform process and outlines topics to be studied, ideas to be integrated into new insurance products, and entities that will be involved in the process. 

Utah House Democrats are looking forward to having a seat at the table as we discuss reforming the health care system in our state.  We believe that the goal of reform should be nothing less than to provide every Utah resident with affordable health coverage that facilitates access to comprehensive, quality care.   

“As Democrats, we look at health care reform in four areas – affordability, accessibility, portability and quality,” said House Minority whip, David Litvack, D -Salt Lake City.  "It’s like a four-legged chair.  If one of the legs is broken or missing, then it can’t stand on its own.  As we go through this reform process, House Democrats will make sure the chair is able to stand on its own, and that as we go forward to provide quality health care to our state’s residents that we do no harm.: 

Utah Democrats passed and sponsored the following bills that will have a positive impact on the health care system in our state:

HB131 Community Based Self Sufficiency Program 
Representative Jen Seelig sponsored and passed HB 131.  Mini-grants in the $30,000-50,000 range will be available for community-based organizations to identify and enroll Utahns in Medicaid, CHIP & Utah Premium Partnership (UPP) and teach them how to make effective use of benefits.  “UPP emphasizes individual responsibility for obtaining coverage and care. These Mini-grants are the best way to reach busy uninsured workers, especially those in high-risk groups, so that they can participate in the private market with the help of a premium subsidy,” said Seelig.  Utah has among the lowest enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP in the nation. Communities of color, refugees, tribal members, and rural folks are especially under-enrolled. The mini-grants will help to close these gaps. “The best part about this bill is that recipients of the mini-grants (non-government institutions) must demonstrate self-sufficiency as they grow.  In other words, these institutions can’t apply for grants year after year, or continue to rely on government dollars,” said Seelig.

HB0074 Medicaid 340b Drug Pricing Programs
Representative David Litvack sponsored and passed HB0074 which will require that the Department of Health explore the feasibility of expanding 340B drug pricing programs in the State Medicaid program.  The 340B Drug Pricing Program requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to certain covered entities. 

Other Bills passed by members of the House Democratic Caucus

How are your legislators doing?  Following is a comprehensive list of bills passed by the Utah Democratic Caucus in the 2008 legislative session.  These bills have either been signed by the governor or are awaiting signature. 

Click here to see a complete summary of bills sponsored by House and Senate Democrats.

Representative Karen Morgan Fights for Class Size Reduction

SALT LAKE CITY, March 5, 2008 — Members of the Utah House of Representatives debated and passed First Substitute Senate Bill 2 today, the all-encompassing education funding bill.  To the surprise of many legislators, when the bill came forward it included millions of dollars in funding for an internet access and software program for preschoolers, a proposal that had previously failed in the House.

Representative Karen Morgan, D-Salt Lake City, attempted to remove this proposal from the omnibus bill. Morgan then proposed that this funding be applied to HB194 Class-Size Reduction in Kindergarten through Grade Three, a bill which passed unanimously.

“The highest priority of parents across the state is class-size reduction.  With little children, nothing surpasses one-on-one individualized attention,”  said Morgan.  “As important as early childhood education is, we should not be putting millions of dollars into a experimental pilot program that was voted down by this body.   The state education fund was established to provide funding to grades K-12, and that is where we should be putting our efforts.  This amendment reflects the will of the people of our state, and the will of this collective body.”

House Bill 194 would have provided grants to schools to help them lower their class sizes in grades K-3, and it would ensure accountability for the use of those dollars.

After a 45 minute floor debate, Morgan’s attempt to amend the education funding bill failed by one vote, but she vowed that she will not give up in the fight for class size reduction.

“Class-size reduction is the most important thing we can do for education in our state,” said Morgan. “I will continue to work toward providing that for these little ones in the most overcrowded kindergarten, first, second and third grade classrooms.”

INTERN BLOG:  MEG’S CORNER

by Meg Penafiel

Intern to Minority Whip David Litvack

The Living and the Dead

Six years ago, I would never have imagined myself walking up the marble steps of the Utah State Capitol building.  I never thought I would shake hands with real, live politicians.  Having studied the works of ancient and contemporary political thinkers, I was content to learn of their breakthroughs, theories, and even their hopes.  Go ahead and accuse me of subscribing to the Straussian view that theory is superior to practice.  After all, isn’t thought much simpler, more predictable, and more attainable?  The conception of thought is prerequisite to its existence, and its existence prerequisite to its reality.

It wasn’t until I was sitting in the gallery of the House chamber as an intern did I become conscious of how much I want my hopes to become reality.

An Intern’s Outsider Perspective

Even the most unconcerned of us are expert at observing.  With immigration being a hot topic during this 2008 General Legislative Session, I thought I was in for a treat:  I am an immigrant, I am involved in this issue, and my research paper (which will be on immigration – surprise, surprise!) will be very juicy indeed.  As I took notes during committee meetings, house floor debates, and discussions with my legislator, I was tortured to be in the process but out of it at the same time.   I never saw an immigrant speak on behalf of immigration legislation which will have complete control over his/her life.

Well, was I astonished to find how useless it is to have thought but not do anything about it!

Stuck in Politopia

This is the part where theory entices practice and observation begs for action.  I used to say that the lack of attention towards the legislative process is merely an indication of a healthy, legitimate government.  I mean, if the people are not complaining, then something must be right.  But how fragile is that legitimacy when not upheld by the participation of the people on which this government was built.  I cannot express how painful it is to go home to my family and friends and tell them about the progress of immigration bills during the past week.  Funny how we all have a suggestion or two…but who should we tell it to?

Who would listen?

Moment of Gratitude

This internship program is great!  The government system which it strives to assist is even greater!  I have always admired it, but I’ve learned that participation is essential to keep that admiration alive.

A special mention to Rep. Litvack:  Thank you for redefining the meaning of success. 

An Intern's Perspective
by Christine Poleshuk
Intern to Minority Caucus Manager, Phil Riesen

As a former professional ballet dancer and current Anthropology major I have been asked many times how I ended up as Representative Riesen’s intern here at the Legislature.  I don’t have a simple or clever answer to this question.  All I know is that I was lucky enough to have enjoyed the journey as well as the destination (although it’s hardly the final stop). 

Filtering through a personal scope all that I’ve observed over the course of this internship, I recognize that a member of the legislature is not unlike a performer.  They make onstage appearances daily; in committee, on the floor, and at press events.  But the ‘real’ less-understood work of researching, planning, contemplating, etc. occurs backstage in the privacy of offices and board rooms.  Accustom to being privy to both, I have immensely enjoyed the essentially unrestricted access interns are granted.   

Prior to this internship I figured that backstage, behind closed doors, characters change, make-up comes off, stature shrinks and a different person is revealed.  But this is so over-simplified it quite literally isn’t true.  Our democratic legislators are genuine and truly work to positively impact the State.  There’s an overused saying up here on the Hill that goes: There are two things you never want to see being made: sausage and laws.  For me, this statement couldn’t be farther from the truth (ok well maybe the sausage part).  I acknowledge the ugly part of the process but there’s a lot of good up here too. 

After only 40 days I think it’s safe to say that the gravitational force generated by this crazy world of politics has a pretty strong hold on me.

An Intern’s Itinerary

by Megan Bitner
Intern to Assistant to Minority Whip, Carol Spackman Moss 

6:00 AM:  Wake up.  The sky is still dark and so are the circles under

your eyes.

6:30 AM: Actually physically get up. Congratulate yourself that it only took a half hour today.

6:35 AM: Quick hair and makeup. The cameras will be there whether you like it or not.

6:59 AM: Iron your pants while chiding how you should have done this last night.

7:13 AM: Make sandwich number 35.

7:19 AM: Check for the fourth time that you have your cell phone and identification card with you as you race out the door.  It is a well known fact that you can survive a day as an intern having forgotten to bring almost anything, except your phone and card.

7:30 AM: Depart, having spent the last ten minutes clearing the foot of snow that fell on your car last night.

7:50 AM: Arrive at the Capitol and race towards your office.

8:20 AM: Get Representative Moss to her committee that started ten minutes ago. Don’t let her talk to more than three people along the way.

10:00 AM:  Floor time. Get Representative and computer there in one piece.  Keep her from getting mauled by appreciative PTA or angry immigrant haters.

10:20 AM: Start answering emails.

10:22 AM: Race down to take her a folder she left on her desk.

10:25 AM: Back up to the office for more emails.

10:45 AM: Race back down with a phone number.  Fix her computer problem.  Go out into the center hall to idiotically look around for lobbyists you don’t know.  Ask the green coats who are nice and completely unhelpful.  Start embarrassing yourself by asking random people who they are.

11:00 AM More email time.

11:15 AM: Get frustrated by one of the many things some of the reps on the "other" side of the aisle say or do.

11:23 AM: Race into the gallery to watch a Democrat pass a bill.  See more reps say special things.  Bite your nails as the votes go up.

11:45 AM: Freak out because Representative Moss’ bill is almost up and she can’t be found.

12:00 PM: Race down and get turned down by several Republicans to co-sponsor a bill. Hide surprise when one says yes.

12:15 PM: Realize Representative Moss has left your radar. Hope she made it where she’s going.

12:30 PM: Intern lunch. Discuss frustrations. Slyly mention that Joseph should be a Democrat. Mark as a contact but no baptism date yet.

2:10 PM: Appropriations Subcommittee has started.

2:20 PM: Navigate the tunnels to get to the West Building with computer in hand and Representative at side to get her to committee.

2:30 PM: Grab her bills for her committees tomorrow.

2:43 PM: Email time.

4:45 PM: Back to West Building to pick up Representative and carry her computer back

5:20 PM: Arrive back at the office have only stopped to talk to ten people.

5:30 PM: Race back down to the floor on three separate occasions to grab things she left down there.

6:00 PM: Leave office after enjoying talking to Representative.

6:30 PM: Arrive home and spend mind numbing time in front of the television.

11:00PM:  Off to bed.  Set the alarm.  Check it once, twice, maybe five times.

As this internship draws to a close, I realize that it has been one of the most fulfilling times in my life.  Even with all of the early mornings and late nights,  I would not have changed a moment.  In fact, I would like to extend it longer, though I may find myself addicted to caffeine if I do so. 

The principle thing that I have learned is that everything that everyone believes about politics is absolutely true.  It is positively the most disgusting, back-biting, self-serving, vengeance-fostering, ignorance-breeding display of human weakness available.  However, it is simultaneously the most inspiring, uplifting, self-affirming, empowering showing of human strength and ingenuity on this earth.  It has amazed me how a small group of average citizens can attach themselves to an idea and actually make things happen.  Sure, much of the system is dominated by lobbyists who are paid too much and wield an unnatural amount of control. However, people who do not hold important positions are still able to change public policy through dedication and perseverance. It is not an easy task, but the results can be wonderful. 

I do not believe that this is last that will be seen of me in the political arena.  The spirit of good up here is contagious and I think I’ve become infected.