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SALT LAKE CITY -- On the final day of the legislative session, Utah's Democratic legislative leaders say this year has been better than most when it comes to working with their Republican counterparts.
Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, says she hopes the cooperation will continue through the final hours.
"I'm not as angry as I often am at the end when things happen that are unexpected," said Moss. "If you ask me this later today I might change my mind, but I think overall it's been pretty conciliatory. I think Democrats have been treated well in terms of our bills weren't stuck in rules, as they have been some years."
Moss is concerned about education funding and says next year will be even more difficult because education growth was not funded this year. She is also getting ready for "a big debate" over Senate Bill 2 that deals with the long-term funding of charter schools.
House Minority Leader David Litvack says he's happy with the number of bills Democrats have been able to get passed this year, which he says as of Thursday morning they was nearly 30.
"From my recent recollection and memory [this is] the most that we've passed as House Democrats," he said.
Litvack says 98 percent of their key topics have been discussed and dealt with fairly by Republicans. He said, "For the most part this session has been marked by a great deal of cooperation and bipartisanship, particularly on the key issues such as ethics, the budget."
Although Litvack says they proposed to take more money from delayed road projects to give toward education, the Democratic proposed budget is fairly similar to what will likely eventually be passed.
Sen. Luz Robles, D-Salt Lake, commented on the efforts being made by Republican legislators to enforce states' rights. She says Democrats also want to ensure states' rights, but there were so many proposals from Republicans the process was bogged down and time taken from more immediate issues. She also worries about losing federal funding through some of the states' rights bills.
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
