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SALT LAKE CITY — A new landfill in Tooele County got one step closer to reality this week as an energy measure advanced in the Utah State Legislature this week.
Other happenings on the hill included an introduction of a bill asking for a better pathway for Puerto Rico aid and a budget reality check.
Click on the headlines below to read the full stories.
Resolution OKed urging repeal that could help Puerto Rico
The House Transportation Committee voted in favor Friday of a resolution urging Congress to repeal the Jones Act, a 1920 law that is hindering Puerto Rico's recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
Rep. Mark Wheatley, D-Murray, the sponsor of HRC11, presented it to the committee.
"This is deplorable," Wheatley said. "They are U.S. citizens, and we haven't been able to restore power to the entire island."
Hopes too high for teacher pay raises? 'There isn't the money everyone thinks there is,' Senate leader says
A Senate leader told members of the Utah Legislature's Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee on Friday that projections for revenues that will fund next year's budget don't appear to be much different from the current year's, which may temper expectations for sizable teacher pay raises.
On Thursday, House GOP members mulled raising teacher salaries a total of $6,200 each, something Sen. Jerry Stevenson, R-Layton, said needs to be clarified "very quickly."
"The expectation of what's real in this budget, I think, is not real," said Stevenson, Senate co-chairman of the Executive Appropriations Committee.
Resolution advances permitting EnergySolutions application for landfill in Tooele County
A Senate panel advanced a resolution Friday to allow EnergySolutions to apply to create a landfill for nonradioactive waste at its nuclear waste facility in remote Tooele County.
SJR11 would grant EnergySolutions legislative approval to pursue an application to create an on-site landfill for nonhazardous waste. The Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee voted unanimously to give it preliminary approval. It now goes to the Senate floor for consideration.
