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LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SALT LAKE
January 2008 Unit Study Material (available in pdf)
League Legislative Priorities
You have all read about this year's League legislative action priorities in the latest Utah Voter (Winter 2008)
Here are some filed bills and proposed bills related to League priorities that you can look over and discuss at your unit meetings. Keep in mind that many of our goals will depend not only on bills filed but on the Governor's budget and budget action by the various Appropriations committees, which the League Lobby Corps will be following as well.
On page 4 are some suggestions about action that you and your unit can take.
First Tier Priorities
EDUCATION
Adequate funding. The League always supports adequate funding for quality education. Last October a budget surplus of $250 million to $400 million was projected, so some legislators want tax cuts as well as an increase in education dollars. House Republicans are asking for a cut of 80 to 100 million dollars. But if the current downturn in Utah's economy continues, it could affect sales and income tax revenue projections and budgets later in the session, so some legislators say they are budgeting only 80% of expected revenue.
Some property tax bills have been requested which could reduce revenue for schools and local government services. HB 69, Repeal of Board Leeway for Reading Improvement , by Rep. John Dougall, would eliminate the local school voted leeway property tax that pays for the K-3 reading program. The program would be funded instead by a $20 million state Uniform School Fund appropriation.
Two Constitutional amendments are being written that would likely reduce property tax revenue: Joint Resolution Amending Constitution Regarding Valuation of Residential Property of Seniors by Sen Gene Davis and Joint Resolution Amending Constitution Regarding Valuation of Residential Property of Seniors by Rep Paul Ray. Current property tax laws do give tax breaks to seniors ("circuitbreakers") but only to those with low incomes. The League supports circuitbreakers but values the property tax as a more stable source of revenue compared to income and sales tax revenue which goes up and down with economic cycles. Do you think all seniors should get a property tax break?
The special issue of equitable funding for school capital improvements has come up because the Jordan School District split last fall, raising the question of whether the cost of building new schools in fast-growing areas should be shared statewide instead of falling on a particular district. SB 48, Equalization of Capital Outlay Funding, by Senator Eastman is one such bill.
The question of whether charter schools should be funded by the state or in part by school districts is also on the agenda. See HB 278, Charter School Funding Amendments, by Rep Ron Bigelow.
Proposals to increase teacher pay and the quality of education include HB 67 by Rep Rhonda Menlove, appropriating $8 million to pay special educators for an added 10 days of work a year. HB 81 by Rep Bradley Last sets up a task force to suggest incentives for teachers to improve their performance and student achievement. HB 232 by Rep. Steven Mascaro appropriates $18 million a year for elementary schools that improve math proficiency, including professional development for grade 4-6 math teachers. HB 266 by Rep. Carol Spackman Moss would appropriate $300,000 in state and local funds for accelerated learning International Baccalaureate programs.
CLEAN AIR
Carbon emission reduction and support for alternative energy technology are League priorities. Two bills have been requested (not numbered yet): Energy Resource and Carbon Emission Reduction Initiative, sponsored by Sen. Curt Bramble, and Renewable Energy Standards for Utilities, sponsored by Sen. Scott McCoy.
Just days before the submission of the report of the Governor's Renewable Energy Initiative (REI) Task Force, Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) and Sen. Bramble proposed his bill to the October meeting of the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee (PUTIC). The Energy Resource and Carbon Emission Reduction Initiative would establish a soft target of 20% of adjusted calendar year sales (adjustments include new nuclear) being from renewable sources by 2025, with no interim year targets. The memo describing the proposed legislation (no actual language was publicly released) stated that they had been working with all Utah generators to address their concerns.
The memo stated that Oregon utilities faced the certainty of a voter initiative if the Legislature did not pass a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). PacifiCorp (RMP) actually helped develop Oregon's law under that threat, but Sen. Bramble's legislation has some things RMP prefers over Oregon's renewable standard.
Reaction to Senator Bramble's preemptive legislative proposal was strong from many of the stakeholders who had participated in the Governor's REI Task Force. A decision was made to seek a sponsor to propose a "real" RPS for Utah. Sen. McCoy's Renewable Energy Standards for Utilities reportedly is modeled on the Oregon legislation.
Also watch for these requested bills: Solar Energy Income Tax Credit by Rep. Last, a Renewable Energy Zone Task Force by Rep Stowell that would facilitate combining renewable energy sources and needs in a given region, and State Agency Energy Savings by Rep Hunsaker.
Support air quality conservation
Rep. Roz McGee's HB 106 Clean Air and Efficient Vehicle Tax Incentives would provide a tax credit of $1,000 for new vehicles that meet air quality and fuel economy standards and it eliminates a provision of the law that now excludes hybrid electric-gasoline vehicles from the tax credit.
Other Clean Air priorities are:
Restrict power from coal
Support mass transit; limit roads
Restrain sprawl
Second Tier Priorities
WATER CONSERVATION
Support conservation programs
Rep. L. Wiley is proposing a State Facility Water Conservation Program (not yet numbered)
Oppose further diversions of waters
HB 117 By Rep Sandstrom would keep Instream Flows to Protect Trout Habitat
No dam on the Bear River
No Utah water to Las Vegas
Sustainable management for Utah groundwater
GOOD GOVERNMENT
Support non-partisan redistricting commission
In past years, Rep. McGee and others have proposed that legislative and congressional voting district lines be drawn by a commission instead of by legislators who have a conflict of interest. This year Senator Bramble is working on Joint Resolution Amending Legislative Apportionment , a Constitutional amendment. Constitutional amendments must pass two-thirds of both houses before going to a vote of the people. Getting that many legislators to give up their power is difficult. The League supports a bi-partisan commission to advise the legislature.
Support lobby reform (gift limits)
No bills have been proposed. The law was modified last year but does not seem to have increased the number of legislators who are identified by name as receiving gifts (still only about 60 percent). More changes are needed to provide accountability even if only by disclosure.
Support independent ethics commission.
This oversight body is favored by Re.p Roz McGee. This SL City Weekly (January 10, 2008) article explains why. Note that Paul Mero of the conservative Sutherland Institute supports the idea, too.
Monitor legislators conflicts of interest and voting rules.
Senator Bramble is working on Senate rules that would better define legislators' conflicts of interest and how conflicts should affect their voting. Currently, legislators must vote on all bills, regardless of conflicts they may have.
Oppose changes to election of the State School Board and selection of the State Superintendent.
HB 244 State School Board - Elections and Districts by Rep. Carl Wimmer proposes that members of the State Board of Education, one from each of 29 State Senate districts, be elected as candidates of political parties. First of all, the League questions the efficiency of such a large Board. Last year we opposed changing candidates from non-partisan to partisan status. We believe the distractions of political party ties and obligations, especially to legislators, would interfere with board members' ability to respond directly to their constituents, Utah students and their parents.
Senator Howard Stephenson has requested a Constitutional amendment, Resolution Amending Appointment of State Superintendent . A similar proposal last year authorized the Governor, rather than members of the State Board of Education, to appoint the Superintendent. The issue seems to be whether to give the Governor more power over education policy or allow board members more say.
Election law changes
Election Day Voter Registration (EDR)
A bill has been requested by Rep. Neil Hansen, probably modeled on an Idaho law, which allows voters to register on Election Day if they have photo ID and verification of their address. We recently participated in a discussion of EDR with Demos, a public policy research group, county clerks, legislators and the ACLU. The Idaho election official at the meeting was quite satisfied with EDR. Fraud has not been a concern in other states with EDR, and Utah officials were not especially concerned about fraud but worried about voting in the wrong precinct. Currently, if there is doubt, provisional ballots are used and clerks have two weeks to verify the voter's status before the final count. In the last election, only 13 provisional ballots out of 10,000 were rejected in Salt Lake County. But EDR ballots could not be checked this way after being cast, so poll workers would have to be especially careful that EDR voters were in the right precinct. Since some elections are decided by a very small number of votes, this is a concern.
The main attraction of EDR is increased voter turnout. In 2006, turnout increase averaged 10 percent in the seven EDR states. The League supports EDR.
Independent Audit of Election Results has been requested, also by Rep. Hansen. This would authorize an independent Election and Audit Recount Committee and standards for comparison of machine and paper record results.
National Popular Vote
HB 283, Compact Agreement among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote, by Rep. Neil Hansen would authorize Utah to participate in a compact among states who agree to cast their electoral votes for the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote nationwide. Several states are now going through this authorization process. The compact would not take effect until enough states joined it with enough electoral votes to guarantee that a majority of electoral votes would go to the popular vote winner nationwide.
NUCLEAR POWER
Oppose weakening of the current approval process
Question environmental and economic viability of proposed nuclear power plants.We know that Rep Aaron Tilton has proposed building nuclear power plants in Utah. But as of now there are no bills or bill requests. The League will continue to monitor all energy matters closely, including nuclear power.
Tax policy
The League always checks tax proposals for fairness and revenue adequacy. This year significant changes are not expected other than the property tax proposals noted above under Education.
Health Care
Some far-reaching proposals for health care reform are expected. The League has extensive positions at the national level but not at the state level. We plan to monitor developments to see if that national position might be applicable. You can see the LWVUS position by going to our positions page, and clicking on LWVUS Impact on Issues 2008. Then search for Health Care.
Unit Discussion Ideas
After you have read and discussed this overview, try choosing 4 or 5 bills for your unit's top priorities.
Then compose a message to your legislators (it could be a letter, email, or phone call) about one or more of them - and plan to deliver it. Keep in mind these hints:
When you write or call
< Identify yourself, the bill, the bill number if you have it, and what it's about
< Explain how you or people you know will be affected
< Be as brief and to the point as possible (one bill or issue at a time is best)
< If you can't answer a question, offer to find out and call back
< Ask your legislator to state her/his position
< Note what you agree on, and express appreciation for listening and for votes that please you
More hints--from legislators
< Legislators appreciate good information
< They listen most to their own constituents
< Just a few calls or letters on an issue make a difference
< Conciseness counts in a short 45-day session
How to get information on legislative issues
< Read your VOTER, newsletters and newspapers
< Listen daily during the session to a morning League update on KCPW (88.3 and 105.3 FM)
< Join the LWV network for email or phone updates
< Use the legislature's website for bills, agendas, legislator information and e-mail addresses
Legislative Website http://le.utah.gov
Phone: HOUSE 801-538-1029 1-800-908-4261
SENATE 801-538-1035 1-800-613-0677
GOVERNOR 801-538-1000 1-800-705-2464
Fax House: 801-326-1544 / DEMOCRATS 801-326-1539
Fax Senate: 801-326-1475 / DEMOCRATS 801-326-1476
Go to the LEAGUE website for information and action
email: lwvut@xmission.com
League of Women Voters 801-272-8683 fax 801-272-5942
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