Lawmakers face huge legislative logjam today
The Executive Appropriations Committee approved an additional $100 million in spending Tuesday. But negotiations continue between Senate and House majority Republicans over some $250 million that is expected to go toward tax cuts ($160 million) and roads ($90 million.)
Legislative leaders and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. still need to resolve exactly how to manage the proposed tax cut, including the $70 million for an income tax reduction, $70 million for a reduction of the sales tax on food, and $20 million for business tax cuts. Most likely, the final package will include a "flatter" income tax, which has few deductions or exemptions, and a 2 percent reduction in the sales tax on food.
The ongoing negotiations, however, have significantly reduced floor time in both the House and Senate, resulting in a backlog of bills that legislators will be racing to finish.
Among the issues on the board in the House are bills dealing with student clubs, toll roads and redevelopment agency regulations. In the Senate, bills dealing with the reduction in the sales tax on food, hate-crime laws and funding for the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium remain.
What did become clearer on Tuesday was what will probably not be funded: dental and vision benefits for Medicaid recipients, reducing the state's disability waiting list, and targeted education programs, especially all-day kindergar- ten.
The lack of dental and vision funding continued to rile disabled activists, who suggested that anyone not receiving the funds call legislative leaders at home to ask for help. Later in the day, those activists who were escorted by Utah Highway Patrol troopers from the Executive Appropriations Committee Monday after chanting for the benefits were not initially permitted to enter the committee room prior to a Tuesday hearing and were only allowed in under the threat of arrest if they misbehaved.
Rep. Kory Holdaway, R-Taylorsville, the sponsor of the optional full-day kindergarten proposal designed to help lower-performing and economically disadvantaged children, said he is now faced with an uphill battle to find different resources for the program.
The proposed cost would be $7 million, and one of the problems could be that public education received a record 6 percent increase in its basic funding, which may have convinced many legislators that education received a fair boost this session.
Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower said full-day kindergarten is still one of the governor's top priorities this session and they are exploring different ways to fund it.
Comments
- Myths as persistent as mosquitoes 2:12 p.m.
- Hollywood glamour at Gaultier 1:58 p.m.
- Canal breaks, causes landslide in Logan 1:52 p.m.
- Reptile Lou won't eat 1:06 p.m.
- Three injured in South Ogden shooting 1:05 p.m.
- Upsets at Saturday's State Am 12:27 p.m.
- Luxury home market stalls 12:02 p.m.
- Kirk Douglas classic on DVD 11:38 a.m.
- Zion fire moving southeast 11:36 a.m.
- More school-money than expected 11:24 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- 10 years after the flood
- LDS seminary principal arrested
267 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
176 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
140 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
132 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
99 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Letters: Single-payer system best
75 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
By now you've probably read about the investigation that showed just how...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
I am confident that Glen Beck has the read the book by Gary Allen,NONE DARE...
The best thing we could do would be to get rid of all the people in DC who...
He would not pull out a whip, that's for sure. You people must read a...
i havent read anything about 20 mil. i read 32 to 36 mil not confirmed. 15...
Enter comment Introduzca comentario ¡¡Por Dios!! Esto no es cosa del...
When I was 16, I thought the world of my seminary teachers. They all talked...
Girls/Ladies/Women, let me first introduce reality into this discussion. In...
Obviously you don't get my point. They were non-violent resisters. They were...
PRESIDENT CLINTON was guilty of the SAME KIND OF CRIME. An older man in a...
Ah, The Religion of Peace! :-)




You can be the first to comment on this story.