Tag Archives: Legislature

What is marriage? The divorce edition

Posted on February 15, 2013 by

Tweet It is a tired trope that people who care about marriage are inordinately worried about it being redefined and should just work to address the problem of divorce. Of course, in fact, they have been doing just that for … Continue reading →

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Smoking, dating, and competing rights

Posted on February 13, 2013 by

Tweet The following post is a transcript of a weekly radio commentary aired on several Utah radio stations: Well into the new legislative session, already we see signs that state legislators struggle to discern first principles from ideological preferences and … Continue reading →

Posted in Legislature | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

2013 Legislature: Testimony in favor of SB 53 — intergenerational welfare reform

Posted on February 12, 2013 by

Tweet Testimony given by Stan Rasmussen Tuesday in support of Sen. Stuart Reid’s Intergenerational Welfare Reform (SB 53, 2013) before the House Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee: Thank you, Mr. Vice Chair, and good afternoon, Madam Chair and Representatives. … Continue reading →

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2013 Legislature: Testimony in favor of education transparency bill

Posted on January 29, 2013 by

Tweet Testimony given by Derek Monson before the Senate Education Committee on Monday: Thank you, Mr. Chair. My name is Derek Monson and I am Director of Policy with Sutherland Institute. I am here to speak in favor of SB 128. … Continue reading →

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What nobody will admit about our public schools

Posted on October 26, 2012 by

Tweet If you ask the typical representative of the State Board of Education or government bureaucrat at the State of Office of Education why educational achievement is not what everyone expects, you will receive one of two answers: (1) public … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Interim Day at the Legislature: Utah's energy economy

Posted on October 17, 2012 by

Tweet Energy production and development (especially fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas) are valuable parts of Utah’s economy, according to a report that the governor’s energy adviser gave to the Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Interim Committee. … Continue reading →

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Evaluating (and paying) teachers more effectively

Posted on October 9, 2012 by

Tweet The Deseret News recently published an article discussing how educators and education researchers are investigating new ways to evaluate the effectiveness of school teachers. Those ways include: (1) rigorous classroom observation, based on specific teaching behaviors associated with student … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Interim Day: Panel hears reports on government-centric economic development

Posted on September 19, 2012 by

Tweet In today’s Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee meeting at the Utah State Capitol, the committee heard reports from various state government economic development agencies, including reports from the Office of Tourism and the Film Commission. The Office … Continue reading →

Posted in Legislature | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Utah's Reid shows leadership on intergenerational poverty

Posted on August 27, 2012 by

Tweet Utah State Senator Stuart Reid is providing important leadership on a crucial issue — intergenerational poverty. The 1990s saw a major effort to reform public welfare through work requirements for welfare recipients. This effort had merit, but Senator Reid … Continue reading →

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Health care reform: Utah’s ‘Supreme Court paralysis’

Posted on May 17, 2012 by

Tweet Today the Legislature’s Health System Reform Task Force met to discuss issues regarding the Affordable Care Act (i.e., Obamacare) and the Health Care Compact. In discussions regarding how the state should respond to Obamacare requirements, the overriding sentiment was … Continue reading →

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Interim day: license plate scanning and Common Core

Posted on May 16, 2012 by

Tweet Today, the Utah Legislature held its first interim committee meetings of the year. These meetings occur once each month from May through November, except in July. Legislators address a range of issues, including ideas for future bills, implementation of … Continue reading →

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Capitol Daily Memo: Harvard professor wants Utah higher ed to adapt

Posted on January 24, 2012 by

Tweet   Renowned Harvard business professor and acclaimed author Clayton Christensen addressed the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee this morning in the Senate building at the Utah Capitol. A Utah native, Christensen is a world-renowned expert on how disruptive technologies alter … Continue reading →

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House committee puts a halt to Wimmer’s tax bill

Posted on January 27, 2011 by

Tweet A bill that would require a two-thirds vote for any tax increases in the state failed Thursday to make it past a House committee. HJR001, a bill sponsored by Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, failed on a 7-7-2 vote. The … Continue reading →

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Hillyard warns budget cuts are going to sting

Posted on January 25, 2011 by

Tweet With a $313 million structural imbalance in the Utah budget, state lawmakers are considering multiple options for cuts – and regardless of which option the Legislature chooses, some agencies are going to hurt. “There’s going to be people impacted … Continue reading →

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10th Amendment a major theme in 2011 Utah Legislature

Posted on January 24, 2011 by

Tweet “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” – The 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution With the … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitution, Legislature | Tagged , , | 2 Comments