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Richard Piatt Reporting Utah lawmakers are starting to cut to the chase in the last week and a half of the 2006 legislative session. With many unresolved money issues, some hard-fought bills are dying quickly, including a mandatory seat belt law.
They say seat belts save lives. But today, nothing could save a bill to let cops pull you over for not wearing a seatbelt.
More than 70 percent of last year's traffic deaths happened because people weren't wearing their seat belts. But, in a House committee, Republican lawmakers didn't think that was enough to make seat belt use mandatory.
Rep. Paul Ray/ (R) Clearfield: "One of the parts is the civil liberties. Don't make me do something. The other, people do say seat belts save lives."
Rolayne Fairclough/ AAA Utah: "They're here for 45 days talking about limiting personal freedom. This is one of the only bills that will actually save lives."
In fact, 415 Utahns are split on a mandatory seat belt law. According to a Dan Jones poll for KSL and the Deseret Morning News, 51 percent favor the idea, 47 percent do not; a statistical tie.
Still, Senator Karen Hale plans to push the issue again next year.
Sen. Karen Hale/ Senate Asst. Minority Whip: "I think this is a bill that affects all of us. We know that if parents are buckling up, kids are buckling up."
The quick disposal of this bill--and others--indicates lawmakers are sensing time is running out. Just more than a week and counting till the end of the session, and now there's a real sense of urgency to get tax reform done."
Spending the Surplus
- Education/Public Needs 58%
- Tax Cuts/Reform 28%
- Other/Don't Know 14% The Dan Jones poll shows tax reform is not the priority for most people: 58 percent say funding education, transportation, water projects and other need is the priority. 28 percent do say tax reform is a priority. Removing Food Sales Tax Yes 86% Of that group, a whopping 86 percent favor removing the sales tax on food. Flatter Tax Yes 84% And 84 percent say they want a 'flatter' income tax that could save money for most people. But in fighting may make it hard to get legislative agreement. Gary Herbert/ Utah Lieutenant Governor: "If not, the governor has said we'll bring them back to a special session. It is not acceptable to not have anything done as was committed to do." There is plenty of work to do in the next week and a half. And not everyone's priority is going to make the cut.
