Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
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In this Sunday Edition, Utah Compact supporters -- former U.S. Sen. Jake Garn and executive vice president of the Salt Lake Chamber Natalie Gochnour -- explain the five principles and why Republicans and Democrats have joined forces. KSL's Richard Piatt discusses how the Utah Compact may affect the upcoming legislative session. And KSL's Quarters for Christmas has been providing shoes to children for over 40 years. KSL Radio's Doug Wright discusses the legacy of this charity.
Segment 1: Utah Compact
Last month, Utahns representing a broad spectrum of interests came together to support and sign the Utah Compact. It urges state leaders to adopt "reasonable policies" addressing immigrants. It is drawing attention beyond the state. In an editorial published Dec. 4, the New York Times lauded the effort, saying, "A clearer expression of good sense and sanity than Utah's would be hard to find." Now, Georgia has modeled an initiative based on the Utah model.
This is a problem that has to be solved at the national level. Twenty-two states are talking about individual solutions, that will not solve the problem. If we are going to deal with illegal immigration we've got to have a consistent law passed by Congress. That's the only way to solve it.
–Jake Garn
Joining us to discuss the Utah Compact are two of its supporters, former U.S. Sen. Jake Garn and Natalie Gochnour, executive vice president of the Salt Lake Chamber.
The Utah Compact is a grass-roots effort. Gochnour explains the process of creating the document.
"Many months ago in a lot of conversations that involved the business community, the law enforcement community, I would call it, the United Way, people who have immigrated, refugees and the like, started talking about how some of the discourse in our state was not what we would want it to be," Gochnour explains. "And in an effort to add more civility to the discussion started having lunch, started getting in some rooms together, and through a really organic process of multiple authors, 250 words crafted the Utah Compact."
More than 2,500 Utahns have signed the Utah Compact. Garn is one of those supporters. He explains why he supports the effort.
"This is a problem that has to be solved at the national level," says Garn. "Twenty-two states are talking about individual solutions, that will not solve the problem. If we are going to deal with illegal immigration we've got to have a consistent law passed by Congress. That's the only way to solve it. And coming from me who's always a state's rights person, but this is a national and international problem. Twenty-two states pass different laws, all you will do is make the problem worse. So in this case we have got to have a solution out of Congress."
Segment 2: Utah Compact and the Legislative Session
Advocates for a reasonable and humane approach to an immigration solution have high hopes for the Utah Compact. But how will it and its five principles play in the state Legislature? Richard Piatt, KSL's political reporter, offers insight.
At this point it looks like it is going to be a significant driver in what moves forward. I'm hearing information that there is probably at some point, very soon, going to be a Utah Compact bill.
–Richard Piatt
Piatt says it is early to know exactly how the Utah Compact with impact the upcoming legislative session.
"At this point it looks like it is going to be a significant driver in what moves forward," describes Piatt. "I'm hearing information that there is probably at some point, very soon, going to be a Utah Compact bill. That will be presented, and at least proposed as a stand-alone bill. Now eventually what may happen is that the Utah Compact bill may get folded in to some of the other proposals that are also floating out there."
Segment 3: Quarters for Christmas
KSL's Quarters for Christmas has been helping children since 1964. The charity has recently expanded its reach. KSL News Radio's Doug Wright wasn't here in '64 but was listening to the radio.
Quarters for Christmas is one of those great charitable giving opportunities where you can have confidence that your donation is really going to the cause. And that's what makes the difference.
–Doug Wright
"Quarters for Christmas is one of those great charitable giving opportunities where you can have confidence that your donation is really going to the cause. And that's what makes the difference," says Wright. "So when you give a dollar, a dollar actually goes to the cause."
Quarters for Christmas was started to buy shoes for needy kids, but today the program provides shoes, coats and clothing through various organizations. Everyone can participate, you can donate any amount. If everyone in Utah donated just a quarter, it would raise $750,000. Over the 46 years the program has been in place, a couple million dollars has been raised. It is a statewide program that gives throughout the year.
