Politics Up Close is a one-hour program featuring interviews with the Utah congressmen, lawmakers and local government officials who make the decisions affecting your quality of life, along with the concerned citizens and advocates trying to get their attention.
If you recognize the name Breck England, it could because of his frequent op-eds in the newspaper, lambasting the Utah Legislature. Or perhaps it’s because the he’s co-written several books with famous Utah author Stephen Covey, and shared his expertise on LDS history. Now, the business consultant is hoping to win a seat in the Utah Legislature, running as a Democrat in Davis County.
Jeff Bell says he’s running for elected office because he got fed up. The Democrat says he’d rather be participating in the political process as a bystander, but the legislature has become too absurd. Bell can be heard online every week as host of The Left Show, one of many podcasts he created. We talked with him about his campaign for the Utah House of Representatives, where he’s running for an open seat.
Salt Lake City’s budgeting process for next year is expected to be much smoother than in years past, with revenues up instead of down, bolstered by an estimated million dollars in sales taxes from the newly opened City Creek Center. But Mayor Ralph Becker says the city is still $11.5 million behind on its projects.
This year’s election for U.S. Senate could be a rematch. After challenging him in 2000, former Utah Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell is once again mounting a campaign against incumbent Orrin Hatch, who’s seeking a seventh term in office. Howell served 10 years in the Utah legislature, and was an executive for 34 years with IBM, where he says he’s helped produce economic growth.
The Supreme Court ruling Citizens United has swiftly become one of the most criticized judicial decisions in history. The 2010 ruling led to the creation of so-called Super PACs, collecting unlimited contributions in support of candidates from both parties. Now, a nationwide movement called Move to Amend seeks to overturn that decision, and it’s picking up steam here in Salt Lake City.
