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Politics
5:08 pm
Tue February 5, 2013

Ban on Smoking in Your Car with Children Moves Forward

A bill making it illegal to smoke in a car with children is one step closer to becoming law after getting a favorable recommendation from the House Health and Human Services Committee.

Democratic Representative Patrice Arent says her bill is aimed at helping the thousands of children without a voice who are being harmed by second hand smoke in cars. Several doctors spoke in favor of the bill, including Dr. Kevin Nelson, a pediatrician at the University of Utah.

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Politics
5:15 pm
Mon February 4, 2013

Water Tax Bill Gets Stuck in Committee

Credit Brian Grimmett
File: Rotunda of Utah Capitol

The Senate Revenue and Taxation committee chose not to move on a bill that would have allowed the state to tax water usage.

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Politics
5:09 pm
Mon February 4, 2013

Utah House Passes Tax Breaks for Businesses that Hire the Homeless

Credit Courtesy of Utah State Legislature.
Democratic Representative Brian King of Salt Lake County, crafted a bill that would give businesses tax breaks if they hire people who are homeless.

Members of the Utah House passed a bill today that would give businesses a tax break if they hire people who are homeless.  

Salt Lake County Democrat Brian King crafted the bill that would give businesses a tax credit of between five hundred and two thousand dollars for hiring an individual who is homeless. King said the legislation is designed to help some live more stable lives.

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Politics
2:12 pm
Thu January 31, 2013

Congressman Jim Matheson Addresses Immigration, Economic Development with Utah Legislature

Credit Brian Grimmett
Congressman Jim Matheson, D-Utah, speaks to the Utah Senate

Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson made a visit to the legislature Thursday where he shared a list of things that he believes will help economic development.

He says the first task in encouraging economic development is eliminating uncertainty.

“You can’t eliminate all uncertainty of course but, when public policy multiplies the amount of uncertainty that’s out there, for the private sector, for the public sector, that’s a burden,” he says.

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Politics
9:21 pm
Wed January 30, 2013

Governor Herbert Declares "The State of Utah is Strong"

Credit Courtesy of Governor Herbert's Office.
Governor Gary Herbert delivers his State of the State address to lawmakers in the Utah House Chamber at the Capitol

Governor Gary R. Herbert delivered his State of the State address last night at the Capitol.  He showcased Utah’s strong economic growth and pledged to increase support for education. 

Governor Herbert focused on education during the first part of his speech calling for sixty-six percent of Utahns to have completed some form of higher education by 2020.  He pledged to invest up to 40 million dollars in the science, technology, engineering and math education or STEM program and Herbert promised to improve public education.

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Politics
1:55 pm
Wed January 30, 2013

Poll Shows Majority of Utahns Feel Swallow Acted Illegally or Unethically

Credit Brian Grimmett
File: Utah State Capitol

 A poll released by the BYU Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy gives new insight into how Utah voters feel about the alleged scandal involving Utah Attorney General John Swallow.

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Politics
5:33 pm
Tue January 29, 2013

Remote Mental Health Care a Possibility with New House Bill

Credit Brian Grimmett
Rep. Ronda Menlove (R.) presents HB 56 to the House Health and Human Services Committee

 The Utah House Health and Human Services Committee gave a favorable recommendation to a bill that would allow mental health and substance abuse counselors the ability to provide therapy remotely.

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Politics
4:26 pm
Tue January 29, 2013

Utah Democrats Call for Increased Education Funding

Credit Terry Gildea
Josie Valdez, the Vice-Chair of the Utah Democratic Party, calls on lawmakers that the Capitol to increase education funding.

On the second day of the 2013 Legislative Session, Utah Democrats called for a dramatic increase in state education funding, but where that money would come from remains uncertain.  

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Politics
9:22 am
Tue January 29, 2013

Chief Justice: Utah Courts Stronger, More Efficient

Utah courts are becoming stronger, more efficient and more transparent according to newly-appointed Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Matthew Durrant. Durrant gave the annual State of the Judiciary to lawmakers this afternoon on day one of the 2013 legislative session. 

Chief Justice Durrant touted the high court's ability to handle a 10 percent cut in staff during the recession. In the face of reductions, the court system was able to reduce the age of pending cases by 34 percent, meaning cases are being resolved faster.

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Politics
4:47 pm
Mon January 28, 2013

State House Speaker Calls for Plan to Wean Utah Off Federal Dollars

Credit Andrea Smardon
New members of the Utah House of Representatives are sworn into office on the first day of the 2013 legislative session.

State House Speaker Rebecca Lockhart opened this year’s legislative session by calling on Utah to become less reliant on federal dollars.

Lockhart told House members that gridlock in Congress has a direct and immediate effect on Utah.

“It’s become increasingly apparent that the action or inaction of the federal government profoundly influences our success. We must have or implement a plan to get the state of Utah less reliant on federal revenue,” said Lockhart.

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