Education reform, illegal immigration and restricting open records dominated the 2011 session of the Utah legislature, which wrapped up last night at midnight. KCPW’s Whittney Evans reports on what lawmakers from both parties have to say about what the legislature accomplished in the past 45 days.
In an announcement from the Senate floor late last night, State Senator Chris Buttars declared his retirement after serving 11 sessions in the Utah legislature. The sometimes-controversial Republican cites the ailing health of he and his wife as the basis for his decision. KCPW’s Jessica Gail sat down with Buttars before his announcement as he reminisced on his time in office.
It takes a lot to make the Utah legislature run. Between the lawmakers, attorneys, and security, it’s easy to forget the dozens of interns who are helping to run the show behind the scenes. On this last day of the legislative session, KCPW’s Jessica Gail introduces us to three interns who have learned a lot about the legislature, life and law.
It won’t be implemented until July, but Governor Gary Herbert is still getting calls for HB 477, which restricts Utah’s open records law, to be vetoed. It’s too late, however, as the bill has already been signed. The bill was recalled by lawmakers after an uproar from both media outlets and the public over how quickly it was considered and passed by lawmakers late last week.
Groups that are typically at odds on most political issues are finding common ground as they call on Governor Gary Herbert to veto a guest worker bill passed by the state legislature. HB 116, which has gained national attention, allows the state to issue permits for undocumented immigrants to legally work in Utah. Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration spokesman Ron Mortensen says the bill is inherently flawed, and the only solution is to veto it.
A bill that would allow Utah’s Constitutional Revision and Tax Review commissions to convene only when requested by the Governor or the legislature passed the House of Representatives today.
After all is said and done at the Utah Legislature this year, it looks like public education will be the biggest winner in next year’s budget. The legislature’s top budgeting committee has signed off on a 2 percent increase in funding, which will help when public schools are expected to grow by more than 14,000 students next year.
A bill that would allow school bus ads to bring in cash for school districts is close to becoming law. Republican Representative Jim Bird has been working on the bill for the past year, because he says more money needs to go to busing students in hazardous areas. Last year, his bill died in the House Education Committee.
In the final days of the legislative session, lawmakers are making decisions about the largest part of the state’s budget: education. And as KCPW’s Jessica Gail reports, there is more funding this year than there has been in awhile.
Any Yalecrest residents hoping their neighborhood becomes a historic district will probably have to wait at least a year. This morning, the Utah House of Representatives approved SB 243, which puts a one-year moratorium on new historic districts in Salt Lake City. But Democratic Representative Brian King, who lives in Yalecrest, opposed it.
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