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House gears up for battle with feds over public landUtah lawmakers sound a lot like that rebellious rock group The Who: We're not gonna take it.
The Republican controlled House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a passel of bills late Wednesday demanding the federal government transfer its lands to the state and setting a deadline to do it. Democrats called the effort a waste of time, money and energy. Legislative attorneys have warned lawmakers that trying to wrest public lands from the federal government would be found unconstitutional.
One resolution calls for the governor, the Senate president and the House speaker to send a letter to federal government demanding it sell off its public lands in Utah and deposit 5 percent of the proceeds into the state public education fund. Another bill sets a Dec. 31, 2014, deadline for the federal government to transfer the land to the state.
The bills would eliminate Grand Staircase National Monument and wilderness study areas. They also give the state authority to permit oil and gas drilling, mining, grazing and logging.
State lawmakers tabled a bill Wednesday that would set class size restrictions on kindergarten through third grade.
The bill, SB31, divided the House Revenue and Taxation Standing Committee, with representatives agreeing generally on the goal of reducing class sizes but disagreeing on the potential consequences of the bill, especially its funding.
The bill, which was tabled on an 8-4 vote, calls for the phasing in class-size caps, over a four-year period, for kindergarten through third-grade classes. It calls for a maximum of 20 kindergarten students per class in its first year.
Bill repealing driver privilege cards passes committee
Over objections that Utah's driver privilege card is an important public safety measure, a Senate committee endorsed a bill to repeal the state law under which they are issued. The Senate Transportation, Public Utilities and Technology Committee voted 2-1 late Wednesday afternoon to support SB170, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George.
Utah is one of very few states that offers a driving privilege card, he said.
"I think it makes us a magnet for illegal immigration," he said.
But others argued that driver privilege cards enhance public safety because 70-75 percent of cardholders purchase automobile insurance, said Salt Lake immigration attorney Mark Alvarez.
"It's about public safety, about keeping our roads safe," Alvarez said.
Autism early intervention bill moves forward
A compromise bill that would establish a two-year pilot program to help young children with autism disorders advanced Wednesday with a 67-3 endorsement by the Utah House of Representatives and now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Sponsored by Sen. Ronda Menlove, R-Garland, HB272 would help children ages 2 to 6 in a three-pronged program focused on early intervention services. It helps Utah insurance companies avoid a "mandate" of insurance coverage, but instead directs impacted children on Medicaid or the Public Employees Health Program or those with parents with no insurance to appropriate services. Part of the funding, Menlove stressed, will come from private insurance companies that have stepped up to help.
She also said non-lapsing funds from the state Medicaid program would go toward funding the $6 million price tag for help that is critical in the early, formative years of children and families struggling to cope with the disorder. That price tag is up for negotiation, she added, but described herself as an "optimist."
Gov. Gary Herbert has included the autism program on a list of potential uses for Utah's $23 million share of a federal settlement with mortgage lenders.
Wine samples at the liquor store?
Restaurants would be able to sample wine and spirits before buying them under a bill that cleared a Senate committee Wednesday.
Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake, sponsor of SB119, said businesses should have that opportunity before purchasing beverages for their establishments and to determine what goes best with the food they serve.
"It's not about consumption because a wine sample cannot be swallowed," he said.
Sampling could take place at state liquor stores, package agencies and trade shows under Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control supervision, according to the bill. Costs for the sampling would be borne by the alcohol industry.
Utah is one of two states that currently doesn't permit wine sampling.
Gov. Herbert meets with Obama, asks for flexibility on health care
Gov. Gary Herbert met with President Barack Obama this week. His message to the commander in chief? Let's get flexible.
In Washington with the National Governors Association, Herbert joined other governors in a meeting with the president Monday.
Herbert said he quoted from Obama's own handouts that some of the best ideas come from states. Medicaid, the governor said, is one of the areas where Utah could do a better job than the federal government.
"My suggestion to him was more flexibility," Herbert said.
Obama turned to Health and Human Services Secretary Karen Sebelius and told her that was something that needed to be addressed.
Federal officials have already rejected several key provisions in Utah's request for more local ability to reform Medicaid.
Internet gambling almost at an end
In a move to preserve Utah's status as one of two states that prohibits all forms of gambling, the Utah Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill to expressly prohibit Internet gambling in the state.
HB108, sponsored by Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, was introduced as a means to exempt the state from pending federal legislation to legalize Internet gambling.
Only Utah and Hawaii prohibit all forms of gambling.
Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, said the prohibition is important because "once you allow one form of gambling, all forms of gambling are permitted in."
The societal costs associated with gambling are well-documented, such as increases in drunken driving arrests and gambling addiction, said Valentine, Senate sponsor of the bill.
"HB108 protects Utah and its unique position where (gambling is) not allowed," he said.
Gov. Herbert wishes E-Verify bill was heard
Gov. Gary Herbert lamented that state lawmakers will not hear a bill this session to toughen the state's E-Verify law.
"I think that's unfortunate for a lot of reasons," he said Wednesday.
GOP leaders said the Legislature wants to take a break from illegal immigration issues this year after passing a package of bills in 2011.
The House Rules Committee, which sifts bills for consideration, decided to hold immigration-related legislation, including Rep. Stephen Sandstrom's bill that would have prohibited employers from knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants. It would have suspended business licenses of companies that violated the law.
Utah has an E-Verify law, which asks businesses to check employees' immigration status in a federal online database. But it does not include sanctions for noncompliance.
Utah lawmakers have made tanning salons like theaters showing R-rated movies: under 18 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Salons would not be allowed to admit children unless their parents or legal guardian are with them and provide written consent on each visit under a bill that has now passed in the House and Senate.
"Parents have a right to know when their children are taking on a known carcinogen," said Rep. Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville, House sponsor of SB41. "This is something that is so risky that we ought to have a parent know every time a child goes in to do this."
The state already restricts children from R-rated movies, tattoos and body piercing without parental consent.
Measure supporting popular vote put on hold
Utah won't be joining a movement to elect the president of the United States by popular vote this year.
The House Government Operations Committee put HB509 on hold Wednesday, but did recommend lawmakers study the idea over the summer.
Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City, said Utah has gone "far, far" from the original constitutional procedure to elect the president. "We have departed to something our founders would not recognize at all in the system we have set up," he said.
Powell's proposal would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
National Popular Vote spokesman Pat Rosenstiel said changing the electoral process would make Utah relevant in presidential elections.
Veterans task force may become reality
State lawmakers may set up a task force to study reintegration issues facing returning military veterans.
"Our servicemen and women love this country. They love it enough to put their lives on the line," said Rep. Tim Cosgrove, D-Murray, sponsor of HB162. "When they come back to this country, we've got to have their backs."
The task force would study issues such as employment, managing finances and suicide prevention. It would also create a plan to help returning veterans transition to civilian life.
The House Government Operations Committee gave the bill a favorable recommendation and it now moves to the House floor.
Contributing:Dennis Romboy, Marjorie Cortez, Benjamin Wood and Amy Joi O'Donoghue
