WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION:
DESERET MORNING NEWS, MARCH 1, 2007:
http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660199775,00.html
“Money. Public education funding. Tax cuts. And more money. That is what the 2007 Legislature will likely be known for — a record spending plan that took care of major programs and special pork projects alike.”
Click on this link to listen to a discussion on education with Rep. Brad Dee, House Assistant Majority Whip:
http://www.senatesite.com/audio/RepDee07.MP3
Legislative Republicans have agreed to fund an unprecedented $527.9 million for education in Utah. Public education will receive $459.5 million and higher education will receive $68.4 million. Combined, education in Utah will receive about one-third of the states $1.6 billion surplus.
Representative Eric Hutchings
District 38
Utah is moving into a new era where health care is growing to dominate political debates and is becoming the hottest topic in company boardrooms across the state. Trying to get a handle on the increasing costs of health care is rendered nearly impossible when providers are not prepared to provide those costs, especially to the uninsured and underinsured who have to cover these costs directly out of their own pockets.
Representative Becky Lockhart
District 64
There has been much interest and speculation with regards to House Bill 391. I was recently asked by Paul Rolly,a reporter with the Salt Lake Tribune, many of the common questions surrounding the issue. Here is the exchange.
David Clark, House Majority Leader
The debate over vouchers and public education has been circling Capitol Hill for the past several sessions. This year, the education voucher bill, HB148, has passed through House committee hearings and will be voted on after it is debated today on the floor of the House.
Earlier this month I expressed the viewpoint that the Salt Lake County and Real Salt Lake stadium deal was “dead.” I’m disappointed with the decision made by Mayor Peter Corroon, however, I accept the outcome and will not try to revive the project with legislation.
Representative Roger Barrus
District 18
Representative Becker and I have worked together to ensure a balance in Utah’s approach to energy. Together, we will discuss the additions proposed to improve the Utah Energy Act, which will include an education component and an appropriation to study the feasibility of creating a central siting authority or infrastructure authority to expedite the siting and construction of major energy facilities such as electrical generation plants, petroleum and natural gas pipelines, refineries, wind farms and other major energy infrastructures.
Today, the Utah House unanimously passed HB 1 and 3 which will serve as a base budget for the State of Utah. Included in that budget is 131 million dollars of new spending for critical needs.
January 15, 2007
Colleagues, members of the press and public, it is a pleasure to stand here today to begin the 57th Legislature here in the Utah House of Representatives.
I say it is a “pleasure” to stand here today, but after winning my election by only 20 votes I should say it’s more of a feeling of being “pleasantly surprised.”