Friday, February 23 2007
This Morning,
Today another floor debate marathon begins at 8 a.m. and goes until "as needed." One committee, the TAX REVIEW COMMISSION, meets at 4:00 to review tax reform proposals.
The Senate discusses SCR 4 at 9:30. This concurrent resolution urges the Bush administration to support participation by Taiwan in the World Health Organization. It says excluding Taiwan from the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network is particularly dangerous, considering today's potential for cross-border spread of infectious diseases through trade and travel.
Today the Senate casts final votes on bills they approved yesterday. SB 78 allows employees to have guns in their cars when parked at work even if their employers don't want guns on workplace property. The weapon would have to be out of sight and in a locked container or a locked car. Proponents say employees have a right to protect themselves on the way to and from work. Opponents believe guns in employees' cars would seriously infringe on property rights of employers.
SB 177 expands income tax breaks for investing in college savings plans, such as the Utah Educational Savings Plan Trust. Other states have similar plans and some contract out plan management to private investment companies. SB 177 would allow tax breaks for investment in these out-of- state plans as well as in Utah's. Bill supporters say such competition would offer choice and encourage efficiency . Opponents say Utah's plan doesn't need competition because it's already well rated with low fees and offers a variety of investments. Eighty to ninety per cent of investors in Utah's plan bring in money from out of state.
In the House, Substitute HB 392 proposes that a presidential preference poll, run by the political parties, take the place of Utah's Western States Presidential Primary, run by the counties as a regular election next February 5th. Some legislators want to avoid the cost of the primary, estimated at $3.5 million. But the Governor and others think the added attention from visiting candidates and the money their campaigns would bring to the state would be worth it.
Sandy Peck
League of Women Voters,
(801)272-8683 fax (801)272-5942
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