Utah Political News
E-Verify bill clears Utah House, ready to be signed
After a concerted effort to amend or stall the E-Verify bill, the measure passed 46-24 and now awaits signatures. SB251, sponsored by Republicans Sen.
Thursday March 11, 2010 6:34PM | sltrib.com
Herbert expects to approve $1 per-pack tobacco tax
Gov. Gary Herbert indicated Thursday he almost certainly will not use his veto pen to block a $1 per pack increase in Utah's tobacco tax, saying to do so would undermine his efforts to protect public education.
Thursday March 11, 2010 5:33PM | sltrib.com
Utah lawmakers urge health care transparency
In an era when one can find anything on the Internet, health care should not be far behind, according to Utah legislators. SJR16 urges health care companies to become more transparent by making policies available to the public and to publish financial assistance, including information on
Thursday March 11, 2010 5:31PM | sltrib.com
Utah senate rejects animal euthanasia standards
The Utah Senate on Thursday rejected a bill setting standard euthanasia methods for animal shelters. HB185 failed the Senate in its final vote, 15-9.
Thursday March 11, 2010 5:27PM | sltrib.com
Hatch, McCain reach agreement on dietary supplements
Washington » Senators have reached an agreement on more modest dietary supplement safeguards that would make it easier to crackdown on products that could hurt people.
Thursday March 11, 2010 5:21PM | sltrib.com
Utah senator-grading bill ready for signature
Utah's U.S. Senators have just been put on notice that their political parties and legislative caucuses back home will be grading their performance on states rights issues.
Thursday March 11, 2010 5:17PM | sltrib.com
Regents could get more rural
The Board of Regents, the 17-member panel that sets higher education policy and oversees the state's nine public colleges and universities, would have a more rural flavor under a bill that has passed both houses of the Legislature.
Thursday March 11, 2010 2:39AM | sltrib.com
Legislature approves holiday for Browning
Gov. Gary Herbert's signature is the only hurdle remaining for a holiday memorializing the late Utah firearms inventor John M. Browning. The Utah House voted 64-0 Wednesday to commemorate the Utah-born inventor on Jan.
Thursday March 11, 2010 2:23AM | sltrib.com
Senate backs new campaign finance reporting rules
The Utah Senate on Wednesday approved new campaign finance reporting requirements. A substituted version of HB309 requires candidates to report checks they cash within 30 days -- not the three days previously proposed -- and requires any third party spending $10,000 on election ads to report
Thursday March 11, 2010 2:19AM | sltrib.com
Medicaid funding escapes cuts -- for now
Utah lawmakers have managed to squirrel away more money for Medicaid. In a preliminary budget approved Wednesday by the Executive Appropriations Committee, lawmakers came up with cash to avoid cuts to the insurance program for low-income Utahns -- at least for the coming budget year.
Thursday March 11, 2010 2:17AM | sltrib.com
McEntee: Utah's NOW primed to rise again
And I thought the Utah chapter of the National Organization for Women was dead. True, its Web site is dated 2007, and no one answered the phone when I dialed the number that was listed.
Thursday March 11, 2010 1:49AM | sltrib.com
Some Utah lawmakers growing weary of bashing feds
For much of Utah's 45-day legislative session, conservatives have risen to support states' rights legislation, united in fiery opposition to a perceived over-reach of the federal government.
Thursday March 11, 2010 1:16AM | sltrib.com
Anti-gang measure heads to guv's desk
In an effort to prevent gang violence, lawmakers passed a bill that requires Utah schools to toughen up on gangs. SB59, which passed the House on a 45-23 vote, would require local school boards and the governing boards of charter schools to implement gang prevention and intervention programs
Thursday March 11, 2010 12:51AM | sltrib.com
House urges upgrade for Provo's State Hospital
During floor discussion Wednesday on a $113 million capital facilities bonding bill, several House members pleaded on behalf of the State Hospital in Provo, which has housed the mentally ill for many decades.
Thursday March 11, 2010 12:37AM | sltrib.com
Lawmakers OK Navajo trust fund settlement
The Utah Legislature has signed off on a court settlement that would send $33 million to the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation for alleged state mismanagement of a reservation oil royalties trust fund.
Thursday March 11, 2010 12:27AM | sltrib.com
Bill to remove growth cap on charters clears House
A bill that would remove the cap on charter school enrollment growth in Utah has passed both houses of the legislature. Currently, charter school enrollment in Utah may grow each year by a number only equal to 1.
Thursday March 11, 2010 12:25AM | sltrib.com
New challenger for Utah County Commission
Provo » Utah County Commissioner Steve White is facing challenges from within and without. Last week, former American Fork Mayor Ted Barratt announced he would run against White as a Democrat.
Thursday March 11, 2010 12:20AM | sltrib.com
Harm done
Republican legislative leaders like to say that they've "held public education harmless" in the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. That means, we assume, that they feel they have done no harm to the public schools, that, for the time being, all is well and quality education has been
Thursday March 11, 2010 12:04AM | sltrib.com
Utah's budget
Gov. Gary Herbert and the Legislature have collaborated to produce an extraordinarily conservative budget. But beyond political ideology, it is a budget for these troubled economic times.
Thursday March 11, 2010 12:01AM | sltrib.com
Stegner Symposium to focus on sustainability
This year's Stegner Symposium will consider whether it is possible to create a civilization that is both prosperous and environmentally healthy and, if so, how.
Wednesday March 10, 2010 10:47PM | sltrib.com
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