The Senate Site

• Saturday Morning Red Meat

  From UPD:
  Red Meat Radio welcomes Tribune columnist Paul Rolly to the program (Saturday, 8-10 am, 630 AM KTKK). [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 1:33pm EST
  

• Interim Workout

  DNews: Cragun confirmed by Senate ; Senate OKs ed board nominee
  Gehrke: Senate confirms nominees to tax, education judicial slotsDNews: Utah, video gaming industry launch Web safety initiativeKSL: Lawmakers advance abortion bill, look at smokeless tobacco ban SLTrib: Gun proposal would defy fedsFox13: [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 8:34am EST
  

• Interim Wednesday

  You can see a list of all upcoming meetings at utahsenate.org. Bottom left. [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 12:43pm EST
  

• Raise Taxes or Cut Services?

  LaVarr Webb on This Year's Question. [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 10:00am EST
  

• Retirement Challenge

  By Dan Liljenquist
  Utah State Senator, District 23
  
  Here is the 28 page PDF from the Actuaries for the URS system presented to the Retirement & Independent Entities interim committee.
  
  Based on this data, if we keep the retirement system exactly the same [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 3:27pm EST
  

• Legislative Audit Reports

  Yesterday, the Legislative Audit Subcommittee met to discuss the following reports from the Legislative Auditor General (you can listen to the audio here):
  A Performance Audit of the Cost of Benefits for Reemployed Retirees and Part-Time EmployeesA Performance Audit of the 9-1-1 System in Salt Lake [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 10:35am EST
  

• Thoughts from the Chamber

  Lane Beattie, former Senate President and current president of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce:
  "Anyone can balance the budget, I guarantee it. The challenge is to balance it in a manner that propels our economy forward."DNews article by Lois Collins
  
  Paul Beebe in the Trib
  [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 10:55pm EST
  

• Senator Hillyard on Ethics

  Senator Lyle Hillyard, along with Representative Brad Dee, spoke with KCPW about their concerns with the Utahns for Ethical Government voter initiative.
  
  Click here for the story. [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 1:16pm EST
  

• Senator Adams

  The Salt Lake Tribune on our newest senator, Stuart Adams:
  "As the new face in the state Senate, Stuart Adams enters with a distinct advantage -- colleagues already view him as an effective policymaker who can bring people together." Click here to read the whole article. [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 10:28am EST
  

• More thoughts on today's Ethics Discussion

  By Lyle Hillyard
  Utah State Senator
  
  As I read Bob Bernick’s report of the debate Tuesday morning at the Hinckley Institute, I realized that some reading it may mistakenly think that the reason I would be concerned about opening the records of the law firm that I helped [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 9:16pm EST
  

• The Chief is Back

  NEWS ADVISORY
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  November 2, 2009
  
  Chief Massasoit returns to the Utah State Capitol
  
  Salt Lake City, Utah - At 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2009, the monumental bronze sculpture of Massasoit, created by nationally recognized sculptor Cyrus E. Dallin, will return to the [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 10:58am EST
  

• Voter Information

  Click here to find out where you are supposed to vote today. Then get out and vote! [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 7:58am EST
  

• Municipal Election Day

  By Lyle Hillyard
  Senator, District 25
  
  On Tuesday, our residents will go to the polls to elect local officials and vote on various bonds. I always appreciate our rights to vote and make our wishes known by the people we elect. Time and [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 10:44am EST
  

• New Health Care Rate

  At the new federal government rate of $2.2 Million per word this blog post is worth over $62 million.
  
  Don't worry about it. We'll bill your great grandchildren.
  
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 10:49am EDT
  

• Congressman Bishop on Health Care

  Two minute video that cuts to the core of the issue:
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 9:51am EDT
  

• Senator Urquhart's discussion

  Senator Steve Urquhart has been blogging about Sex Ed. Quite the discussion happening on his blog.
  
  Check it out. [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 11:28am EDT
  

• First Snow at the Capitol

  [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 1:37pm EDT
  

• Tuesday

  A few things in which you may be interested.
  1. We're not dead. It's just interim.
  
  2. From a man who has seen both sides -- Former Governor Michael Leavitt writes about the balance of power between the states and D.C. (also in today's UPD)
  [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 12:16pm EDT
  

• Today's question: raise taxes or cut more deeply?

  The Governor is committed to building a balanced budget with no tax increase. Gotta respect that. Others, according to Art Raymond's article, believe we'll need to raise about $100 M.
  
  Today's question: raise taxes or cut more deeply?
  
  
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: October 23, 2009, 10:13am EDT
  

• Parents Empowered Press Conference

  President Michael Waddoups and Senator Peter Knudson spoke at a press conference highlighting the success of the Parents Empowered program in curbing underage drinking.
  
  
  
  Listen to the podcast of the entire press conference here.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 4:39pm EDT
  

• Thursday Morning Workout

  SL Trib: 80 mph stretches safe -- so farDesNews: Lawmakers consider sex-ed changesO'Donoghue & Roche: Lawmakers riled over bonuses for trust land officialsDesNews: State legislators "disappointed" by actions of college's trusteesSL Trib: Independent ethics panel gaining support in LegislatureFox13: No Bill, but Sex Ed [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 9:55am EDT
  

• October 21, 2009

  [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 6:06pm EDT
  

• Wednesday Afternoon Workout

  By our distinguished intern, Mike Cannon:
  SL Trib: Cost savings from Utah's 4-day workweek fall short of projectionsABC4: Utah's 4-day work week brings some dividendsDesNews: Lawmakers riled over trust land bonusesSL Trib: Legislative leaders outraged by land agency bonusesDesNews: State agencies prepare for more cutsSL [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 3:41pm EDT
  

• October 20, 2009

  [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 5:51pm EDT
  

• Senate Radio: Senator Hillyard Budget Update

  
  
  Our distinguished intern, Mike Cannon, caught Senator Lyle Hillyard after the Executive Appropriations meeting today to discuss the current budget situation. Listen here. [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 5:23pm EDT
  

• Confirmation Committee TODAY

  The Senate Business and Labor Confirmation Committee will meet today to consider the Governor's appointment to the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. Catch the meeting LIVE online here.' [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 1:08pm EDT
  

• Glance at the Week

  Click here to see the Legislative Calendar for this week, with links to listen live online.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 9:23am EDT
  

• Executive Appropriations Meeting Tuesday

  KCPW: Lawmakers Consider Impact of Last Year’s Cuts, More Cuts Loom
  "Last year, the Legislature approved more than $1 billion in budget cuts, but softened the blow with one-time appropriations from reserve funds and federal stimulus money. However, the programs saved last year by this roughly $450 million appropriation" [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 2:18pm EDT
  

• Budget Train Wreck?

  By Lyle Hillyard
  Senate Chair of Executive Appropriations
  
  This past week, I attended 3 presentations. I was told that there are essential State programs that, if they were not funded either with a continuing back fill or new money, serious problems would occur. The trouble is that [...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 4:35pm EDT
  

• Ignore this

  Another test. Does this work?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  |
  More
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 1:12pm EDT
  

• Star Chamber II

  An editorial board that seems to have read the actual text of the "ethics" initiative:
  
  Daily Herald: IN OUR VIEW
  
  A group pushing a ballot initiative it says would raise ethical standards in the state Legislature wants to create a special commission that would examine allegations of [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 11:57am EDT
  

• Star Chamber I

  Star Chamber (from Wikipedia):
  " . . . The court was set up to ensure the fair enforcement of laws against prominent people, those so powerful that ordinary courts could never convict them of their crimes. Court sessions were held in secret, with no indictments, no right of appeal," [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 11:52am EDT
  

• Panguitch!

  We hardly knew ye. Article in the New York Times, via Utah Policy Daily. [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 2:22pm EDT
  

• Fix Immigration

  Senator Robles on KCPW:
  "... we’re asking Congress to fix a broken policy system that will have a direct impact on our economic situation...." [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 10:09am EDT
  

• A New Partnership: USU and the Idaho National Laboratory

  By Kevin Van Tassell
  Senator, District 26 (Uintah Basin)
  
  The coming together of Utah State University and the Idaho National Laboratory signifies a synergy as we move forward in both conventional oil and gas production and new hybrid energy. It gives the Idaho National Laboratory a local presence [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 4:49pm EDT
  

• Abortion loophole targeted

  KSL: Tightening up Utah's abortion law.' [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 4:49pm EDT
  

• Transparent.Utah.gov :: Essay Contest

  From the Sutherland Institute:
  
  SUTHERLAND ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST
  
  SALT LAKE CITY - In an effort to encourage Utahns to use the state's new transparency website and to promote responsible citizenship, high school students throughout the state of Utah are invited to apply for one of five' [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 3:43pm EDT
  

• The Senate has Gone Country

  Look who's following us on Twitter.
  ' [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 1:45pm EDT
  

• Who cares?

  El Foresto tweets (and blogs): Why is Nobody Else Bothered By Rep. Holdaway's New Job?
  
  Does anyone care?
  
  If certain legislative watchers were agitated about the revolving door last winter, why are they silent now?
  
  In City Weekly (City Weekly, for pete's sake. [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 5:08pm EDT
  

• Eerie alternate universe

  What's going on here? Earth bombs the Moon, President Obama wins the Nobel Prize, and Bob Bernick publishes this.
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 11:05am EDT
  

• Good Question

  Joe Pyrah writes about writing about LDS General Conference:
  How in the name of all that is inky and tweety are we supposed to transition into the Digital Age if half our readers not only don't get it, but get angry about it? ' [...]
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  Posted: October 09, 2009, 10:10am EDT
  

• UPD: Call to Action

  Representative Mike Morely published this in Utah Policy Daily. Appropriate and timely reminder.
  

  A movie from a few years ago portrayed a fictional president of the United States. Near the end of the film, the actor portraying the president said these lines, "America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship.'" [...]

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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 9:35am EDT
  

• Provo on the Rise

  According to Forbes Magazine, the Provo-Orem area is the number 2 U.S. City (metro area) on the rise. [...]
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  Posted: October 05, 2009, 8:58am EDT
  

• Garden Time

  By Lyle Hillyard
  Senator, District 25
  
  This has been a glorious gardening year. The frost we normally get in Cache Valley on the second week of September did not come. We did cover our raspberries and cantaloupes last week when it was predicted [...]
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  Posted: October 02, 2009, 11:53am EDT
  

• Who's conservative? Who's liberal?

  Craig Frank: Mirror, mirror on the wall
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 02, 2009, 10:15pm EDT
  

• Urquhart on Holdaway

  Wishing him well.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 2:31pm EDT
  

• Bye Lynette

  Once again, our loss is the state's gain. This hit the inbox today. >>> Annette Moore 9/30/2009 10:43 AM >>>
  Some of you may already know; but just in case there are some who don't, Lynette Erickson (administrative assistant and docket clerk) has been recruited by our new Lieutenant Governor, [...]
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  Posted: September 30, 2009, 1:00pm EDT
  

• Rep. Bishop and the Red Rock Wilderness Bill

  Representative Rob Bishop wrote an op-ed in the Deseret News concerning the Red Rock Wilderness Bill (so-called "Hinchey Bill"). This bill (which all 5 members of our congressional delegation oppose) would set aside a huge chunk of land in Utah as federally protected.
  
  Yesterday, Jay Evensen of the [...]
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  Posted: September 30, 2009, 12:43pm EDT
  

• MATC Groundbreaking II

  By John Valentine
  Senate Chair of Higher Education Approps
  
  @danceyeah asked a good question.
  
  It has to do with timing. The MATC has to move out of most of the facility it shares with UVU in Orem because UVU did not renew the lease. [...]
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  Posted: September 24, 2009, 5:54pm EDT
  

• What Utah is made of

  The 2008 American Community Survey has been released with many census facts and figures about Utah. Check out the survey in its entirety here.
  
  (Or, just look at this Salt Lake Tribune article for a snapshot).
  [...]
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  Posted: September 22, 2009, 6:34pm EDT
  

• MATC Groundbreaking

  At a groundbreaking ceremony today for a new campus of Mountainland Applied Technology College, Senator John Valentine noted the importance of this day to the students in attendance (Daily Herald):
  

  "This is an opportunity you will not forget," he said. "Where were you on 9-11? At the time Apollo set" [...]

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  Posted: September 22, 2009, 4:56pm EDT
  

• Informed / Sincere

  Senator Urquhart:
  In the policy arena, it’s always a good starting point to believe that people expressing opinions are informed and sincere. Really, the only other alternative starting point is to believe that people are uninformed and insincere – in need of a ruling class to tell them what they [...]
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  Posted: September 21, 2009, 2:16pm EDT
  

• Happy Constitution Day

  From the Library of Congress:
  Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is observed each year on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787 and “recognize all who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.”More on the Constitution from the folks [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2009, 4:56pm EDT
  

• The State Budget

  Rich Piatt (KSL) discussed the most recent budget figures with Utah's legislative leaders.
  
  

  Video Courtesy of KSL.com

  [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2009, 1:07pm EDT
  

• Thursday Morning Workout

  Budget News
  KSL: Utah facing $850 million shortfallDaily Herald: Utah faces projected $850 million budget shortfall Gehrke on the State BudgetDNews: Revenues $150 million in red?ABC4: Utah economy expected to fall short
  Ethics Initiative
  LaVarr Webb: News Analysis: Will Citizen Initiatives be Approved by [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2009, 9:24am EDT
  

• September 16, 2009

  [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2009, 5:55pm EDT
  

• Media Q & A: LIVESTREAM @ 2:00 p.m.

  [Update II:] Listen to the podcast of the Media Availability here.
  
  
  
  [Update:] Senator Wayne Niederhauser was elected as the new Majority Assistant Whip.
  
  We will be holding an informal Media Q & A TODAY, around 2:00 p.m. (LST) in the Senate [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2009, 11:39am EDT
  

• Governor's Appointments

  Today at noon, the Senate will confirm Governor Herbert's most recent appointments. See the full list here.
  
  Amanda Smith is among those being confirmed. She will become the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality. Our distinguished intern, Mike Cannon, interviewed Amanda about her new position. Listen [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2009, 8:39am EDT
  

• Gary Herbert has what it takes

  By Howard Stephenson
  Utah State Senator, District 11
  

  Gary Herbert is one of the nicest people I have ever known, and I have counted him among my friends for many years. Despite our friendship, before he took the reins I had my doubts about whether he had what [...]

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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 5:32pm EDT
  

• Audio Delight

  Can't read all three billion pages of the health care bill? Bryan Schott points us to this little gem:
  
  Hear the Bill .org' [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 5:02pm EDT
  

• Answers to Health Care Questions

  Note from Chris Buttars:
  A few weeks ago I posted concerns about the health care bill. A group of local Democratic Party activists have spent some time preparing a response to those concerns. I don't agree with their point of view but I respect them for their interest and' [...]
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  Posted: September 14, 2009, 9:17pm EDT
  

• Senator Okerlund's Profile

  Utah Policy Daily published a "Policymaker Profile" on Senator Ralph Okerlund. Get to know him here. [...]
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  Posted: September 11, 2009, 10:52am EDT
  

• Tobacco Tax Debate

  On Thursday, the Utah Tax Review Commission released results of a study that furthers the debate on the value of a tobacco tax. You can listen to the meeting here.
  
  From the Deseret News:
  "Addressing questions posed by the Legislature's Revenue and Taxation Interim Committee, the" [...]
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  Posted: September 11, 2009, 8:25am EDT
  

• Including Citizen Media

  No news here, gentle citizen, just old stuff. We're discussing the emerging role of citizen media at an NCSL staff training and I just need a place to cache some links.
  Whiteboard
  
  UtahSenate.org
  
  First Bloggerpresser: What does a Bloggerpresser look like? :: Invitation' [...]
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  Posted: September 10, 2009, 10:32pm EDT
  

• Health System Reforms in Utah

  Last week, BusinessWeek Magazine discussed Health Care reform in Utah and what it will mean to small businesses in the state.
  
  Utah's hope is that the new market-based program will reach out to small businesses that cannot afford to offer health insurance to their employees.
  
  (HT: [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 2:24pm EDT
  

• Distant Early Warning

  Holly on the Hill is the woman on the watchtower:
  Day of Reckoning is a' coming' [...]
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  Posted: September 04, 2009, 7:21pm EDT
  

• How much work does it take to be a legislator?

  Rep. Chavez-Houck discusses legislative compensation and conflicts of interest on KCPW. It's worth a listen.
  [kcpw.org] WARNING: you will find no screaming diatribe here. No one says anything dumb; no one gets bitten. It's kind of refreshing. [...]
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  Posted: September 04, 2009, 7:12pm EDT
  

• Greg Bell Senate Confirmation Speech

  Greg Bell delivering a speech following his confirmation as the Lt. Governor by the Utah State Senate. (Can also be seen 0n the Utah State Senate's YouTube page)
  
  [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2009, 1:57pm EDT
  

• Confirmation & Swearing-In Ceremony

  [Update:] Photos from today:
  
  
  
  Today at 2:00 p.m. in the Senate Chambers, the Utah State Senate will meet to confirm Greg Bell as the Lt. Governor of Utah. Listen live here.
  
  Around 3:00 p.m., Greg Bell will be sworn in as the Lt. Governor in [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2009, 11:09am EDT
  

• Greg Bell Senate Confirmation

  Tomorrow, the full Senate will vote on Senator Greg Bell's confirmation as the new Lt. Governor in an Extraordinary Session at 2:00 p.m. in the Senate Chambers.
  
  You can listen or watch online here. [...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2009, 5:26pm EDT
  

• Special Session – Alabama Style

  By Lyle Hillyard
  Senator, District 25
  
  Last week, my wife and I traveled (at our own expense) to Prattville, Alabama for the birthday party of a grandson who turned 12. While there, I heard about a problem that Jefferson County, Alabama was having because they ran out [...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2009, 1:59pm EDT
  

• Special Session – Alabama Style

  By Lyle Hillyard
  Senator, District 25
  
  Last week, my wife and I traveled (at our own expense) to Prattville, Alabama for the birthday party of a grandson who turned 12. While there, I heard about a problem that Jefferson County, Alabama was having because they ran out [...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2009, 1:59pm EDT
  

• Texting while Driving - Tough penalties in Utah

  The New York Times featured a story on a new Utah law about the penalties of texting while driving.
  "In most states, if somebody is texting behind the wheel and causes a crash that injures or kills someone, the penalty can be as light as a fine.
  
  Utah is" [...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2009, 10:15am EDT
  

• UPD: The Week Ahead

  Bryan Schott in today's UPD:Tuesday at 2:00 pm, the Utah State Senate meets in Extraordinary session to vote on the nomination of Senator Greg Bell to become Lt. Governor.
  
  Election season kicks off on Tuesday, which is the first day for early voting for the 2009 Municipal primary [...]
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  Posted: August 31, 2009, 9:24am EDT
  

• Capitol Discovery Day

  By Allyson Gamble
  Director of Public Relations and Communications
  Capitol Preservation Board
  
  I would like to invite everyone to the 5th annual Capitol Discovery Day tomorrow, Saturday, August 29th at the Utah State Capitol, beginning at Noon.
  
  This free event is open to the public and offers [...]
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  Posted: August 28, 2009, 4:30pm EDT
  

• Photos from the Bell Confirmation Committee Hearing

  
  
  You can also hear the audio recording of the entire meeting here. [...]
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  Posted: August 27, 2009, 10:41am EDT
  

• Greg Bell Confirmation Committee Hearing

  Senator Gregory S. Bell will be interviewed by the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Confirmation Committee today for the office of Lt. Governor. The meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. in the State Capitol, room C445.
  
  Listen live here. [...]
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  Posted: August 27, 2009, 8:10am EDT
  

• Never too early

  It's August 26th and the 2010 Legislative Session is well underway. The essential question: what's the best way to balance our budget?
  
  See the tax discussion start on KCPW, DNews, and KSL. [...]
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  Posted: August 26, 2009, 3:44pm EDT
  

• One Year Later

  About a year ago, Senator Dan Liljenquist miraculously survived a horrible plane crash in Guatemala while on a humanitarian mission. Still recovering from the wounds of that day, the senator recalls his experience to Robert Gehrke of the Salt Lake Tribune.
  
  Read the story here. [...]
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  Posted: August 24, 2009, 9:02am EDT
  

• Governor's Appointees

  On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed the following list of appointments from Governor Gary Herbert:
  
  Real Estate Commission:
  H. Thayne HoustonBoard of Aging and Adult Services:
  Hilary Gordon
  Jim Winder
  Joseph Miner
  Darnel Haney
  Board of Juvenile Justice Services:
  Kirk AllenDr. Mark Bezzant
  David Christensen
  Workers Compensation [...]
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  Posted: August 21, 2009, 11:19am EDT
  

• Congressman Bishop on Cap & Trade

  Congressman Rob Bishop visited our Natural Resources Committee today. Listen to the audio here: RealPlayer or MP3
  
  It's worth a listen. He starts discussing Cap & Trade at 3:20. [...]
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  Posted: August 20, 2009, 1:06am EDT
  

• Concerns and Questions about National Health Care Reform

  By Chris Buttars
  Senator, District 10
  
  The concerns and questions below are based on the original version of the House Affordable Health Care Choices Act. They represent just a few of the many alarming practices presented in this bill.
  
  There are actually four primary versions of [...]
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  Posted: August 20, 2009, 10:34pm EDT
  

• Move along citizen . . .

  [Update, 6:43 p.m.:] Yes, there used to be a post on a federal health care bill right here.
  
  No one has changed their mind about the overreaching, over-intrusive, over-expensive, ill-advised bill. But this particular blog post might have been a misfire. Our bad.
  
  Check back tomorrow for more [...]
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  Posted: August 19, 2009, 3:59pm EDT
  

• Media Release: Congressman Bishop in Legislative Committee to discuss Cap & Trade

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  August 19, 2009
  
  
  CONGRESSMAN BISHOP TO ATTEND LEGISLATIVE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENT INTERIM COMMITTEE
  
  SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Congressman Rob Bishop will attend the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 to discuss Cap & Trade (the [...]
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  Posted: August 19, 2009, 9:47am EDT
  

• New Century Solution

  Heads up - House and Senate Leadership made the following statement about 10 minutes ago:
  "Earlier today, Majority legislative leadership and Governor Herbert instructed the Utah Board of Regents to fully fund the New Century Scholarship.
  
  "The past week both sides of the aisle have provided constructive input in [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 2:04pm EDT
  

• Intimacy

  How intimate are you with the Utah Senate?
  
  The 10 Levels
  
  Inspired by the Monday Cup o' Joe' [...]
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  Posted: August 17, 2009, 12:37pm EDT
  

• Health Care Reform: Which Version Do WE have to Take?

  By John L. Valentine
  Utah State Senator, District 14
  
  To quote the August 6, 2009 Provo Daily Herald, “The more you look at the Democrats’ proposed health insurance scheme, the scarier it gets.”
  
  I have had, literally, a hundred calls from constituents, members of the legislature [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 5:08pm EDT
  

• Greg Bell Time Line

  Here are some key dominoes still to fall before we hit equilibrium with a new Lt. Governor, new senator for District 22, and a new Senate Majority Assistant Whip.
  * August 27 or September 1 - The Government Ops Confirmation Committee holds a hearing on Greg Bell as Lt. [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 4:22pm EDT
  

• New Century Scholarship

  By Lyle Hillyard
  Senate Chair of Executive Appropriations
  
  I have received many negative comments from students and parents about the recent reduction in the money available to fund the New Century Scholarship program. The education fund has been hit by the loss of state revenue, like most [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 7:03am EDT
  

• Inauguration Pictures

  [...]
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  Posted: August 11, 2009, 3:47pm EDT
  

• New Governor's Website

  www.utah.gov/governor
  
  That didn't take long.' [...]
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  Posted: August 11, 2009, 3:10pm EDT
  

• LIVESTREAM: Inauguration at Noon

  We will live-stream the Inauguration here. The official ceremony starts at noon, but we will begin streaming early to give you the full experience.
  
  Ustream.tv [...]
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  Posted: August 10, 2009, 4:44pm EDT
  

• Inauguration Tuesday

  Consider yourself invited. The Gary Herbert Inauguration is open to the public. In their words:
  
  You are cordially invited to attend the farewell address of Ambassador-designate Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. and the Inauguration of Gary R. Herbert as the 17th Governor of the State of Utah.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: August 10, 2009, 4:41pm EDT
  

• Money in Education

  By Howard Stephenson
  Utah State Senator
  and
  Dr. Larry Shumway
  State Superintendent of Public Instruction
  
  We recently read the latest Census Bureau re-port that shows Utah still ranks 51st in per pupil spending. The rankings elicit both positive and negative feelings. While we can be proud of efficiencies [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 6:18pm EDT
  

• Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell

  Deseret News' editorial on the Greg Bell selection:
  
  Anyone who meets state Sen. Greg Bell is immediately struck by his affable nature, his intellect and his knack for bringing people together.
  
  It sounds like the perfect mix of attributes for Utah's next lieutenant governor, doesn't it?
  
  [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 3:34pm EDT
  

• Executive Protection

  By Michael Waddoups
  President of the Senate
  
  Re: this.
  
  When Governor Huntsman announced he would be leaving his post, I noticed an additional security presence watching after the Lt. Governor. It made sense. I thought it was appropriate for his new role as acting governor. It's' [...]
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  Posted: August 06, 2009, 7:55pm EDT
  

• Getting to know Senator Greiner

  Utah Policy Daily provides insight into the life of Senator Jon Greiner. See the profile here.
  
  Here's an excerpt:
  "My philosophy of government: Government can't be all things for all people; we collectively can't afford it. It needs to deal with those necessary things that benefit" [...]
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  Posted: August 06, 2009, 5:32pm EDT
  

• New Lieutenant Governor

  Gary Herbert will announce his choice for Utah's second-in-command Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Gold Room. You can watch the live-stream right here.
  
  
  
  [UPDATE:] Senator Gregory S. Bell has been selected as Utah's new Lt. Governor.
  
  Here's the Guv's press release (PDF).
  [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 8:54pm EDT
  

• U of U Medical School Funding

  By Lyle Hillyard
  Senate Chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee
  
  This past weekend, I saw an opinion piece in the Deseret News by my good friend Don Gale urging that the legislature reconsider its action and restore the funding for the University of Utah medical school. [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 2:57pm EDT
  

• Hazing: Legislation needed?

  Representative Greg Hughes discussed the hazing issue on KSL's Nightside Project last night. In the first hour, he questioned whether or not this is a problem that can be legislated. He also took questions and input from callers to the show.
  
  Listen to the discussion here. (The [...]
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  Posted: July 31, 2009, 2:38pm EDT