Session a mixed bag for Dixie

ST. GEORGE — Dixie lawmakers won on efforts to get flood-relief money through the 2006 legislative session and lost when it came to more money for higher education, they said during a session with a group of constituents on Thursday.

"For me, personally, it was a disappointing year in the Legislature," said Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George. "I really wanted to get some money for our small colleges, and that didn't happen. It breaks your heart when other people don't seem to place the same value on things that you do."

Hickman sponsored SB21, which would have appropriated a little more than $11 million to seven of the state's colleges and universities to expand current degree offerings, establish new degrees or hire more personnel. After several favorable readings, the bill eventually was defeated and sent back to the Senate Rules Committee.

One of the highlights of the session for southern Utah, however, was the Legislature's vote to extend the state's loan of $25 million in emergency flood relief funds to Washington County.

The note carries zero percent interest, said Hickman. The county has another year to finish the recovery work.

The post-legislative forum attracted about 50 people, although many of those attending were mayors of neighboring cities or others seeking office or re-election.

The subject of in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants prompted both Rep. David Clark, R-Santa Clara, and Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, to remind the audience of their opposition to the bill when it was first introduced in 2002.

"We voted against it, and my feelings haven't changed," Clark said.

HB7, which was defeated, would have repealed a state law allowing nonresident tuition rates for Utah high-school graduates who are illegal immigrants.

"I have concerns that we're operating outside of the law right now," said Urquhart. "We currently offer in-state tuition rates to about 150 of these students per year. We don't make that same offer to American citizens who are paying out-of-state rates. I think that violates federal law."

Lawmakers spent extensive time during the session wrangling over how to pass a tax reform package that appealed to Gov. Jon Huntsman and members of the Senate and House, Hickman said.

The Senate passed a 2 percent reduction on the sales tax on food and sent it to the House, plus a tax reform package. House members thought they had a deal with the senators to pass both bills, but they didn't get the income tax bill passed before the session ended, Hickman said, and were unable to complete the budget. They now must meet in a special session to address it.

Other questions handed to the legislators during the forum Thursday included concerns about funding the Lake Powell Pipeline projects and completing a massive list of needed road improvements around the southern Utah region.

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E-mail: nperkins@desnews.com