Unofficial Voice of the Utah Senate Majority
Welcome to The Senate Site
Friday, January 30, 2009Balancing the Budget Again
Utah State is on track to have a balanced budget again, but it isn't painless. We don't print money, and we won't run a deficit, so when revenues come in lower we have to adjust our spending to match new income.
Want details? This afternoon the Exec Approps Committee approved a budget proposal that reduced FY 2009 spending by $273m (5%) combining those proceeds with $45m from fund balances and $32m in facility bonds to close a $350m revenue shortfall. Too much detail? I feel your pain, but keep slogging through, you're almost done. Spending reductions include $175m in operating funds and $98 m from buildings. State operating budgets were reduced by 3.8% on average this year, while public ed - including administration - received a 3% reduction. Classroom budgets decreased by 1.5%. We eliminated $365m from FY 2010 base budgets, back-filling $175m - plus an additional $15m for public education - in FY09. We did not dramatically cut cash funded road projects. That allowed the Utah Department of Transportation to revive stalled road projects and create valued construction jobs. And we preserved 100% of the state's rainy day funds for use in case of further economic erosion. The Committee's recommendation will be written up in bill form and presented to the Legislature as a whole on Monday. The Trib says it could have been worse.
posted by The Senate Site at 8:37 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
January 30th, 2009
posted by Laura B at 5:27 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
"%s"
Web browsing tips from the Sausage Grinder.
posted by The Senate Site at 2:31 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Don't Sedate the Animals
Becky at OneUtah.org asks some questions about Senator Dayton's Wildlife Bill.
Skim down to Richard Warnick's comment for a good answer. This helps too.
posted by The Senate Site at 2:24 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Clay's Law Discussion
Ongoing discussion on Clay's law here: senatesite.com/blog/2009/01/clays-law.html
posted by The Senate Site at 1:46 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Higher Ed Rally
posted by The Senate Site at 1:44 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (2 so far)
English or American System?
Senator Urquhart explains his attorney fees bill.
posted by The Senate Site at 1:17 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
LIVESTREAM today: 11:45 a.m. Media Briefing
Catch the 11:45 a.m. Media Q & A right here. We'll go to a live stream immediately after morning floor time.
We'll talk about the bills we discussed on the floor this morning and get a budget update from leadership. If you have a question but can't be there in person, call 801-647-8944.
posted by Laura B at 11:49 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Don't Forget I-15 in Utah County
MEDIA ADVISORY
January 29, 2009 UTAH COUNTY OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS I-15 PRIORITIZATION WHO: Utah County Legislators, Utah County Mayors & Commissioners WHAT: Utah County Officials will respond to Governor Huntsman’s exclusion of I-15 from the list of reinstated transportation projects WHEN: Saturday, January 31, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. WHERE: Intermountain Healthcare’s Northwest Plaza, 1034 North 500 West, in Provo # # # NOTE: We'll post more information here following the press conference. CONTACT: Colby D. Green Office of Senator John L. Valentine Office Phone: 801-538-1035 Cell Phone: 801-636-0131 E-mail: cgreen@utahsenate.org
posted by Laura B at 11:47 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Friday Morning Workout
posted by Laura B at 8:36 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Thursday, January 29, 2009An Extra Day
So, we postponed today's Exec Approps meeting until tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
We're almost there. But as we scrutinized the draft budget we felt like we should put a little more money in education (a.k.a. cut those line items a little less). The problem – from which line items, exactly, do we take that money? That's what we'll work on over the next 24 hours. Podcast on Senate Radio, if you want more.
posted by The Senate Site at 6:56 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Register to Vote Online
By Megan Robinson
Senate Communications Intern  This afternoon I interviewed Senator Pete Knudson about S.B. 25 - Online Voter Registration. The Senator described the benefits of this bill in my first interview for Senate Radio. Listen here.
posted by Laura B at 4:51 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (2 so far)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
posted by Laura B at 4:39 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
LIVESTREAM today: 11:45 a.m. Media Briefing
Catch the 11:45 a.m. Media Q & A right here. We'll go to a live stream immediately after morning floor time.
We'll talk about the bills we discussed on the floor this morning and get a budget update from leadership. If you have a question but can't be there in person, call 801-647-8944.
posted by Laura B at 11:16 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Thursday Morning Workout
posted by Laura B at 8:46 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009Timeline: Wrapping up the 2009 Budget
What to watch for.
Wednesday: The Chairs of Executive Appropriations meet with subcommittee chairs and staff to go over budget details.Thursday We scrutinize the proposal in various meetings tomorrow morning and early afternoon.Friday or Monday We wrap up the budget for 2009 and start in on 2010. Here's the AP story.
posted by The Senate Site at 3:03 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
posted by Laura B at 2:34 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
The Longest Yard
posted by The Senate Site at 1:44 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
LIVESTREAM today: 11:45 a.m. Media Briefing
Catch the 11:45 a.m. Media Q & A right here. We'll go to a live stream immediately after morning floor time.
We'll talk about the bills we discussed on the floor this morning and get a budget update from leadership. If you have a question but can't be there in person, call 801-647-8944.
posted by Laura B at 11:15 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Scott Riding Rocks
Wow.
Do you know who your legislators are? This is probably the best legislative finder I've ever seen. Hat tip to Phil Windley. Scott Riding was now-Senator Urquhart's intern, back in the day.
posted by The Senate Site at 11:07 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (3 so far)
Re: the budget
Speaker Clark says what we're all thinking.
posted by The Senate Site at 11:06 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Wednesday Morning Workout
posted by Laura B at 9:48 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
posted by Laura B at 3:07 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Senate Radio: Media Q & A Reporters spent the best 28 minutes of their day in the Senate President's Office this afternoon.Click here to listen in. Senator Greiner started it out with the bill he presented on the floor today (re: gang activity - can be seen on YouTube here), then we talked budget reductions starting about nine minutes in. STOF at 17:20. Here's a pic.
posted by Laura B at 2:30 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Tuesday Morning Workout
posted by Laura B at 9:02 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Monday, January 26, 2009Senate President Michael Waddoups Just sworn in. Have you met him yet?Deseret News Profile
posted by The Senate Site at 2:46 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (14 so far)
WELCOME TO THE 2009 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Another lap around the sun and the legislative session has begun. This year the session runs from January 26th until exactly midnight on Thursday, March 12th.
It's your legislature – with all the advantage and liability our system of government can provide. Here are some tools to help you keep up. Legislative Calendar (the flashing marker indicates a live stream)That's a start, anyway. What did I miss?
posted by The Senate Site at 12:43 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (3 so far)
First Day of 2009 Legislative Session
This is the first photo album of the 2009 Legislative Session. More to come...
[Update]: First day audio archives.
posted by Laura B at 12:25 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Senate Radio: Wisdom and ProtectionPresident Uchtdorf, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, offered a thoughtful prayer at the beginning of the session.You can listen on Senate Radio. President Waddoups' comments follow. You'll also want to check out the New Pilgrim Baptist Church choir on YouTube. (The video has significant sound and quality issues but start in at about 4:30 and imagine you were there.)
posted by Ric Cantrell at 10:46 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Pinch Me
I have to admit that, in my lifetime, I never expected so see this kind of headline in the Trib.
posted by The Senate Site at 9:41 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Monday Morning Workout
Welcome to the 2009 General Legislative Session!
posted by Laura B at 9:00 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Saturday, January 24, 2009The Capitol before the Storm
posted by The Senate Site at 5:55 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (2 so far)
Friday, January 23, 2009Clay's Law on YouTube
posted by The Senate Site at 11:23 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Signs of the Times
posted by The Senate Site at 4:02 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Thursday, January 22, 2009Clay's Law
Today, Senator Stephenson held a press conference to introduce SB 43 - Insurance Coverage for Autism Spectrum Disorders - Clay's Law.
Click here to view the video endorsing Clay's Law. 
posted by The Senate Site at 1:51 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (17 so far)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009Wednesday Around the Capitol
posted by The Senate Site at 7:06 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
By Lyle Hillyard
Senate Chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee This past week has been a real challenge with the announcements of possible cuts if the revenues continue to decline. A major reality check will be the revenue projections released in mid-February, which will tell us how close our estimates that we have been using are. A major difference in the approach taken by the Governor and the legislature is our hesitation to spend all the one-time moneys and transfer the on-going road money to other places. If the revenues are not down, we will be able to see what one-time moneys will help lessen the impact this late in the budget year, which ends June 30, 2009. We could still have reductions reported any time during the fiscal year. We must have money to cover the budget on June 30th. Sorry folks, we can’t just print money so it has to be there. The reductions we can make now, along with what was done at the end of September 2008, help us handle the expenditures for FY 2010, which begins July 1, 2009. I am concerned that many of the people who plead with me to expend the rainy day funds now are not considering what is going to happen to their budgets FY 2010. Thursday I saw the latest TC-23 report. In case you don’t know what that is, it is the monthly report issued by the State Tax Commission that reports on the collections received and compares it to past years and where we projected those revenues to be. Although not fully accurate and can’t be used alone to project where we are on our estimated revenues, it is always better to see we are collecting more than projected. I was sick to see that it showed almost a $100.0 M reduction from what we had estimated in December. It is within our range but I wish it was on the upside instead of the downside. I have seen some very positive things in this process. While some groups approach me with the attitude that their program is just too important to cut not realizing that the reductions proposed are hitting every program and agency, I have been impressed with those who approach me with plans of still providing the services in an altered way. I really want to reward them as best I can. I have been told of employees who have volunteered to take a day without pay but still do the work. I have been impressed with employees who say that they would rather take a cut in pay to make sure that no one is laid off. With that attitude, I am sure that the State will survive and probably be stronger for facing these reductions. The session begins on January 26th and ends March 12th. We will have new revenue figures about February 16th. That will give us 3 ½ weeks to complete this budget. Any help you can suggest with new and better ways to provide necessary services with less money will be appreciated and encouraged.
posted by The Senate Site at 6:03 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Monday, January 19, 2009Conversion to Red
Report by Whitney Ripplinger
President's Intern The spectacular season celebrated by the University of Utah football team has made a convert of many Utah residents, including a few from the Senate. President Waddoups, a BYU graduate and a longtime Cougar sports supporter, saw the light on January 16 and experienced a change of heart (and colors). Before addressing the crowd of Utah fans gathered to celebrate the Ute's 31 - 17 victory over Alabama, President Waddoups, with the help of the University President Michael Young, traded in his Cougar-blue tie for one of the bold-red persuasion. The Senate President then congratulated the team and their fans for a great season and invited the team to Capitol Hill to be recognized by the Senate. He also praised the school for supplying the state with an undisputed powerhouse team.
posted by Laura B at 2:39 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
MLK
posted by The Senate Site at 1:47 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
The Legislative Session did not start today.
posted by The Senate Site at 11:09 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Saturday, January 17, 2009The Utes!Video Courtesy of KSL.com
posted by The Senate Site at 8:14 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (1 so far)
Friday, January 16, 2009Beginning Twitter
Today's UPD features David Pogue's NYT piece: Twittering Tips for Beginners. It's worth reading.
We've been using Twitter since late summer, evaluating potential. Seems like an easy and helpful communications tool when we're working on the fly (like, say, during a special session). I won't have 10 minutes to hammer out a short blog post, but might easily find 15 seconds to text a Twitter update*. In a pause between meetings. On an elevator. At a traffic light. One factor to consider is bang for the buck. Is a minute on the Twitter site worth more or less than the same minute spent talking to a reporter or constituent on the phone, or responding to Email? Of course it depends on the minute. Twitter is certainly a quick way to communicate with a group of fairly astute political types who have expressed interest in what we do. It's a great tool for the right situation. For us, 10-30 aggregated minutes per week on Twitter seems to be time well spent. As long as staff avoids sinking too much time there, I believe Twitter is (in Dave Pogue's words) . . . . . . a brilliant channel for breaking news, asking questions, and attaining one step of separation from public figures you admire. No other communications channel can match its capacity for real-time, person-to-person broadcasting.Here's a link to the Senate Twitter Site. * A.K.A. "Tweets" but I can't yet bring myself to use that term.
posted by Ric Cantrell at 10:58 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Senator Luz Robles
Drew, the soon-to-be Intern, introduces one of our newest state senators.
[Update:] KCPW jumped on the bandwagon. Listen in here.
posted by The Senate Site at 9:35 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (1 so far)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009Lobbyist Gifts
By Greg Bell
Senate Majority Assistant Whip I don’t accept gifts. So imagine my surprise when the Deseret News reported that I was among the top recipients of lobbyist gifts in 2008, receiving $800 worth. The Utah State Bar invited me to speak at their annual convention last summer, and as is typical for speakers they waived the $400 fee for the convention. Both the executive director and his assistant had to file reports and each reported the $400, which incorrectly doubled it to $800. When this was first reported, the Bar asked the Lt. Governor’s office to correct the error, which they did not. Many of my constituents have expressed approval of my policy, so I hope I haven’t lost their trust by this misreporting. I go to great lengths to pay for my own meals. I don’t take gifts. I’ve returned or given to charity many, many gifts over 18 years of public service. I intend to keep that policy.
posted by The Senate Site at 3:01 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (5 so far)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009Starting point
Here are staff recommendations for a 15 percent budget reduction.
They hurt. You'll want to keep in mind that these recommendations are just a starting point. The next round of all-day sub-approps committee meetings will be on the 21st.
posted by The Senate Site at 4:04 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (9 so far)
Monday: Budget Overview
On Monday, House and Senate Leadership discussed the current budget issues facing our state.
Below, is a clip from the press conference. Featured are the Executive Appropriations Chairs, Representative Ron Bigelow and Senator Lyle Hillyard. Speaker David Clark offered some perspective on the bonding issue here. Senator Hillyard discusses the Legislature's target here.
posted by The Senate Site at 4:02 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Tuesday on the Hill
posted by The Senate Site at 1:59 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Senate Morning Workout: Tuesday
posted by Laura B at 8:17 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Sunday, January 11, 2009Balancing the Budget - 2009
By Lyle Hillyard
Senate Chair of Executive Approps A few words before we start budget work on Monday. This year has made the budget process an important thing to understand as you look at how the budget will be developed this upcoming session. The Governor begins his process in August and September by asking the agencies to prepare their budget requests. This year, he realized that the revenues would be down but wasn't sure of the extent of that problem so he gave the agencies some guidelines in their preparations. This is completed by the agencies usually by late October or early November. He then has until December 15th to announce his budget. During this time, his staff and the staff from the legislative fiscal analyst office are working through their process and meeting to come to a consensus revenue figure so we at least are talking from the same basis when the Governor’s recommended budget is released. Things were somewhat disrupted when it became evident that a Special Session was needed to correct the ship as each passing day made that correction more difficult. When the revenue continued to slide, the staffs met earlier and came to new agreed revenue and the Governor released his budget about two weeks early. Because it is only a recommendation, the Governor could make recommendation on changes in our
Governor Huntsman used much of the one-time money to soften the blow and could use on-going General Fund money that was dedicated for roads to fill in for on-going education and human services programs. The Governor's information was limited at the time, and the public only saw his final recommendations. Now the legislative process begins. While we began with the same revenue numbers, we can see that the economy continues to slide. We won’t know the full extent until the revenue figures are reported for the end of the quarter which is December 31, 2008 and that won’t be final until the second week of February 2009. The information from the economy that we can see shows us that there may very well be further reductions. Our staff tells us that the revenue figures accepted as consensus last December were the lowest any one proposed rather than the usual splitting the difference so the slide may not be as much as feared. We have directed our staff as a beginning point to
This beginning point will probably be very scary for the groups who depend on state spending to support their program. This process will allow each legislator to see what these cuts represent in the form of reductions of governmental programs and what changes they can see to still provide the same services for the reduced amounts. It will also allow them to review other means of raising revenue such as user fees and modification of revenue sources. The types of tax increases to hold all programs harmless would be so high that the general public would rebel. These committees will be asked to verify that there is still money in the programs scheduled to be reduced that it can still be ended. Will any reductions cause lawsuits that should be avoided? Please remember – on Monday's work is just a starting point. The real result is where we end up, not where we begin. The legislative staff is non-partisan. They work for both the Majority and the Minority Parties. They were given an assignment of finding the reductions to meet the needed revenue if nothing else changes. It has been a very difficult job but one that will give us some insight and guidance. It will also show the public how serious these reductions in revenue are. I accept for the purpose of these reductions that every governmental program is important so I don’t need to hear that. I also accept the fact that we must have a balanced budget and unless there are cuts, we are way out of balance. What I am most impressed in hearing are how programs can be changed to still be effective with the reduced money. The citizens of Utah expect us to be reasonable but accountable to our responsibility to spend what money we have wisely and within the amount we have.
posted by The Senate Site at 11:20 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (1 so far)
Friday, January 09, 2009Bernick's Latest
There- he- goes- again . . . .
By John Valentine Utah State Senator: Orem Well, Bob Bernick is true to formula in his latest article. But he is right about one thing: many legislators are serious about government reform. Somehow he missed the fact that I am one of them. Under my direction, the Senate took unprecedented steps toward openness and engagement. My office worked diligently to provide citizen access to government through daily media briefings, a live webcam, and other experiments too numerous to mention. Now, as I return as a senior senator, I am privileged to sponsor bills again. My bills this year include
Bob Bernick may never understand what really happened here, but I hope others will look at my service and judge it fairly.
posted by The Senate Site at 9:06 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (9 so far)
Tuesday, January 06, 2009Alcohol Policy: A Tutorial
By John Valentine
Utah State Senator, District 14 The Senate Majority position on alcohol policy is not hard to understand. Bottom Line: Proposals that put more drunk drivers on the street will have a remarkably short run in the Senate. The same goes for proposals that would tend to entice our kids towards alcohol abuse. However, proposals that will make Utah less awkward but preserve the beneficial effect of current law will likely have my support and, I believe, the support of the Utah State Senate. Here is the key: 1. We're concerned by violence done by impaired drivers on Utah streets.Do we love "antiquated laws" that make Utah look quirky? No. And yet that unique package of law is an integral part of our low DUI rates and underage drinking. They have a substantial beneficial effect.  Utah has the lowest alcohol-related fatality rate in the nation. Compare the stats on page 6. Seventeen percent of highway deaths in Utah are alcohol-related compared to 31 percent in Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. The rate in Idaho is 28 percent. Texas is 38 percent.Underage drinking in Utah is about half the national average. It's likely someone in your current circle of family and friends is still alive today because of those unique laws. If we mimic other states' law we may soon mimic their fatality rates. The current chant ("Utah is quirky, why oh why can't we be less so?") lacks juice. Would you put your family at risk on the basis of that argument? Of course not. Less quirky if fine - desirable, even - as long as we don't sacrifice the safety associated with our unique laws. Proponents of change need to be conversant with the full impact of their proposals before their arguments can stand the light of simple, responsible scrutiny. Utah is innovative and we have no shortage of bright minds. I'm sure we can work out responsible solutions.
posted by The Senate Site at 10:03 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (64 so far)
Monday, January 05, 2009Inauguration 2009
The Governor and other state officials were sworn into office today during a chilly outdoor ceremony. We enjoyed the view from the cheap seats (indoors).
AG Shurtleff blogged about it.
posted by The Senate Site at 11:42 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Moving Day
The change from the 57th to the 58th Legislature officially occurred in the early seconds of January 1st, 2009. The actual physical transition, however, requires a little more work. Here is former-Senate President John Valentine packing up.
Chris Vanocur was there to capture a few memories on film.
posted by The Senate Site at 10:48 AM | Link
| Add a Comment (0 so far)
Friday, January 02, 200980 is the new 55
posted by The Senate Site at 9:53 PM | Link
| Add a Comment (2 so far)
|
Connect & EngageRadio Free SenateKeep in TouchTwitter UpdatesYour Government 2.0 Lab
Current Discussions
Senate Chronology
Senate Site Feed
|
© 2008. All rights reserved. Designed by Jeremy Wright & His Brother-In-Law