Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LATKE CITY — It's the same struggle every year for the Utah Legislative session: Only so much money to go around, and only so much time to get the work done.
So, how will lawmakers spend their time in 2014? Many of the bills will likely include hot-button issues like liquor laws and nondiscrimination proposals. Education is the top priority for Utah Legislators. But Republicans and Democrats differ about how to spend the state's money on it.
Lawmakers also have important decisions like whether to expand Medicaid this year — a decision that could influence thousands of lives.
"It's also about fiscal responsibility, and being responsible to our constituents for their dollars," said Utah House Speaker Rebecca Lockhart. "Yeah, it's going to be a significant discussion, it's not going to be easy."
Lawmakers will also consider campaign finance reform after an ongoing investigation on former Attorney General John Swallow.
"We're also going to contemplate our code, so it can address some of the shenanigans that we saw," said Jennifer Seelig, Utah House Minority Leader.
During each legislative session each year, lawmakers must balance the budget. So how do those priorities stack up against what Utahns think is most important?
A recent poll shows that, far and away, education is the No. 1 priority for people in Utah again in 2014.
In a recovering economy, jobs are next and air quality is high on the list. People are clearly also concerned about health care, immigration and transportation.
Don't be surprised if lawmakers also taken on a specific part of the state's liquor laws this year.
Lockhart called the "Zion curtain," which requires restaurants to mix drinks out of sight, "weird."
"Where's the data that says having the Zion curtain has anything to do with the goals of DUI, overconsumption and underage consumption?" Lockhart said.
Lawmakers are also expected to take up nondiscrimination law, when it comes to the LGBT community.
Debate on that could be interesting, considering the ongoing fight over same-sex marriage right now.
