Friend, frequent For the People chat roomer, and Democratic Party Vice-Chair Rob Miller gives us a “heads up” – via the Davis County Clipper – on the 2009 legislative session:
The bills that will most likely be considered during the first 10 days are the approximately 95 bills that were passed in 2008 during the interim sessions. Most, but not all of these bills, are available for public view. I encourage you to look at the legislative web site to see them.Additionally, there is no doubt that the bill with the greatest effect on our communities will be the budget bills.
Due to lower tax revenues there simply isn’t any money for new projects. Instead of focusing on healthcare reform and improving mathematics education, which are high legislative priorities, we may find Utah legislators more interested in changing policy that has no, or a low, fiscal note. Beware the legal challenges that this endeavor to save money will produce.
We are already seeing heightened attention to liquor, abortion, tobacco, gambling, property tax, immigration, domestic partnerships, ethics and campaign reform. Many of these issues are likely to be dealt with poorly because they were not truly on most legislators’ priority lists until this last election cycle and, quite frankly, haven’t been worked through in the appropriate manner.
Whether you’re interested in the budget or policy, 2009 is shaping up to be a year of disappointment for moderate voters.
Read the rest here. Todd Weiler’s more “Chilli’s is a Bar that Must Be Dealt With Now!” companion editorial is also available at the site.
