Estimated read time: 4-5 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
HOLLADAY — Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said the upcoming Utah legislative session stands to be "the worst session I've ever seen."
She has served as one of Utah's lawmakers for 15 years, and said sitting with other legislators for 14 hours a day and being civil is "the hardest thing."
Escamilla said the theme of the session this year is "unapologetic of hate," which is "very intentional." She said she doesn't like using the word "hate" but doesn't have another way to describe what is happening in the legislature.
Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, said, as women of color, they are "under attack" by the current legislature.
"We need to be very, very diligent this session," she said.
The two women spoke, along with Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, who is running for governor, at a luncheon Saturday for the Women's Democratic Club of Utah.
Escamilla said Utah's political climate is becoming closer to that of Washington state, and she is leading a push for civility.
She said the two women spent about eight hours reading through the bill related to diversity with attorneys and determined the bill would apply to all government organizations, not just education — including state health leadership and local government.
"I don't think any state has done something so stupid," Escamilla said, adding that the bill is "scary" and implies that everyone is the same. HB261 is titled "Equal Opportunity Initiatives;" but Escamilla called it "equal opportunity, we hate everyone."
Romero said the bill is bizarre, and is trying to "erase people." She said it is a lot for her to handle, emotionally.
"I feel like I'm living in the twilight zone," she said.
"When the ... governor uses the word evil, and when the governor says the 'I' in 'DEI' (diversity, equity and inclusion) is not inclusive, I have a problem; because what you're telling me is my existence is divisive. You're telling me the air I breathe is divisive. You're telling me my opinion is divisive, because I exist. And so I'm starting to personalize it because, guess what, they're personalizing it for us," Romero said.
She was referring, at least in part, to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox's words at a December press conference, when he said it is "bordering on evil" to require people to sign a political statement before applying to a job.
Escamilla said addressing the bill and making it "less evil" is one of her top priorities. The bill has enough supporting votes to pass, and will likely be brought up in the first week, but she said she hopes to mitigate the impact of the bill. Other priorities for her, Escamilla said, include prioritizing child care and mental health.
"Child care is about to break us apart, our entire economy is about to collapse," she said.
Escamilla said she is running a bill to address child care, and is hoping to retrofit government buildings for child care and partner with businesses to provide care for their employees' children, state employees and the community. She said, as the bill is written, the government would not charge for the lease, so it would cost money but it would reduce the cost for providing child care.
Romero talked about working towards affordable housing, addressing a constitutional amendment proposal that would allow funds earmarked for education to be pulled out to other things, including the environment.
Escamilla said part of what is complicating this session is the entire House Democratic caucus is up for re-election and half of the Senate caucus.
Olivia Anderson, legislative director for the Utah Democratic Party, said Democrat candidates are running for nine of the 11 seats up for election in the state Senate, and for 50 of the 75 seats up for election in the state House of Representatives.
The women leaders encouraged others at the meeting to give money to Democrats and not to independents; to be out knocking doors and campaigning for Democratic candidates; to stay informed; share messages from the party and be involved during the 45-day session, which begins Tuesday.
