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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Gov. Gary Herbert used his annual State of the State speech Wednesday to set a goal to raise Utah's graduation rate and implore lawmakers who have rejected Medicaid expansion plans to somehow help poor residents get health insurance.
The Republican governor only highlighted a few specific policies he would like to see lawmakers tackle this year, instead spending most of the 30-minute speech touting Utah's economy and praising lawmakers for sending more money to education last year.
Here's a look at highlights from the governor's remarks before lawmakers in the House of Representatives chamber:
EDUCATION
Herbert on Wednesday said he wants to see Utah's graduation rate rise to 90 percent in the next four years, up from its current rate at 84 percent. The governor said Wednesday the current rate is relatively good compared with other states and is almost 10 percent higher than it was when he took office in 2009. But Herbert said he wants Utah to do better. The governor did not provide specifics on how Utah would meet that goal, but he pledged that Utah officials will provide resources and innovation to help. He also challenged students, parents and educators to work to meet the benchmark.
LAWMAKER REACTION:
Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, said he thinks it's a great goal that Utah may meet anyway with existing programs that seek to turn around struggling schools. He said he that lawmakers are open to other proposals that may further the goal.
Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake City, said he thinks it is a laudable goal. But improving graduation rates will mean adding more teachers, and that conflicts with the governor' track record of trying to trim the number of government employees. Herbert on Wednesday touted the fact that the number of state workers has been cut by 11 percent over the last five years.
MEDICAID
Herbert told lawmakers that they must find a way to help more low-income residents get health coverage. Though lawmakers have rejected several Medicaid expansion plans, Herbert said the problem won't go away because too many people are without insurance. He did not offer a specific plan Wednesday but asked lawmakers to find a solution. A flaw in President Barack Obama's health care law has left tens of thousands of Utah residents without affordable coverage. States have the option under the law of expanding their Medicaid program to insure those people and the federal government is offering to pay most of the cost. Utah's GOP-controlled Legislature has not agreed on a plan, citing concerns about the cost. Lawmakers have rejected two proposals that the governor worked on.
LAWMAKER REACTION:
Rep. Norm Thurston, R-Provo, said lawmakers may pass a plan if they focus on trying to help the neediest people instead of trying to come up with a perfect proposal. He said the governor was steering the discussion for a while with his proposals but now it's time for the Legislature to come up with a solution. Briscoe said Democrats want to see Utah take up Obama's offer to expand Medicaid because residents are not getting the care they need and are dying.
LIMITING EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND LAWS
The governor said stripping away unnecessary rules and laws is one of his priorities this year. Herbert said he's reviewed every executive order issued by all of Utah's governors and will repeal 52 that he said are no longer needed. He did not offer details about which orders he will repeal. The governor also told lawmakers that he will not issue executive orders that bypass the Legislature or the will of the people. He contrasted that with moves from President Barack Obama that bypass Congress and create law by executive order. Herbert himself issued six executive orders last year. Some orders were meant to free up special funds by his declaring that the risk of wildfires had reached a state of emergency. Others ordered state agencies to start a sage grouse conservation plan and help with water conservation efforts.
LAWMAKER REACTION:
Niederhauser said he can't recall Herbert ever passing an executive order that overstepped the Legislature, but he appreciated the governor's pledge. Briscoe too said he couldn't recall a problem with any of the governor's executive orders.
PUBLIC LANDS
Herbert shied away from mentioning a potential lawsuit that some lawmakers are willing to wage with the hope it will force the federal government to turn over control of about 31 million acres of Utah land to the state. The state attorney general is considering whether to file the lawsuit, which is expected to cost up to $14 million. Critics say Utah has little chance of winning the case. Herbert has said in the past that he sees a lawsuit as a fallback plan. On Wednesday, he instead praised a plan from U.S. Reps. Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz that would give Utah more control and seeks guarantees that the president won't declare new national monuments in parts of the state. Bishop and Chaffetz say they'll introduce it Congress soon.
LAWMAKER REACTION:
Niederhauser said he wasn't surprised that the governor only discussed the plan from Bishop and Chaffetz. He said the Legislature isn't sure what steps it will take yet on public lands, so it made sense for Herbert not to get ahead of them by issuing a call one way or another on the lawsuit. Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Salt Lake City, said it's a waste of money to demand that the land be turned over.
DEMOCRAT PRIORITIES
Ahead of Herbert's evening speech, top Democrats on Wednesday afternoon outlined their priorities while acknowledging they face an uphill battle to get their bills passed in the GOP-controlled Legislature. Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City, and Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, called for lawmakers to pass a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $12 an hour, up from the federally-mandated minimum of $7.25.
Niederhauser said he doesn't believe the Republican-controlled Legislature would raise the minimum wage.
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