Huntsman calls special legislative session
As expected, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is calling lawmakers back into special session Wednesday to make technical fixes to legislation passed during the 2009 Legislature.
No further budget cuts are on the agenda set by the governor. Earlier this year, lawmakers sliced about 9 percent from the state budget to deal with a $1 billion revenue shortfall.
Most of the 15 items lawmakers will address during their monthly interim day do deal with adjustments to the budget. Just about all are technical, though, and won't change the actual amount spent when the new budget year begins July 1.
But there is also a proposal to raise Medicaid hospital provider rates. Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said the up to $6 million in additional spending would come from a restricted account.
"This is sort of the fair thing to do," Waddoups said, noting Medicaid providers took a 24 percent cut in those rates. "We're not going into the Rainy Day Fund. We're not raising the cigarette tax. All those tools will still be available to us during the general session in January."
In addition to the budget items, technical corrections will also be made to several bills, including one on subdividing land in rural areas that had been vetoed by the governor.
Waddoups said left off the list were several suggestions, including helping out Chrysler dealers who are losing their dealerships because of the company's financial woes. "I'm not sure that's something the government should be involved in," he said.
E-MAIL: lisa@desnews.com
Recent comments
Hey wait a minute here!!! We want to help the Chrysler Dealers??...
Chrysler dealers??? | May 17, 2009 at 6:02 p.m.
K-12 education took a 18% cut but was backfilled by federal stimulus...
Truth be known | May 17, 2009 at 12:33 a.m.
Waddoups is showing real leadership in a difficult time. His...
Waddoups | May 16, 2009 at 9:27 p.m.
- Woman arrested in gun thefts case 2:43 p.m.
- Trial set for former Mapleton official 2:39 p.m.
- Big spending measure riles GOP 2:38 p.m.
- Wilson not running for re-election 2:37 p.m.
- Utah Co. freeway should last 40 years 2:35 p.m.
- Carnivorous dino discovery at U. 2:31 p.m.
- BYU's Unga weighing his options 2:30 p.m.
- Stocks rise as trade deficit narrows 2:25 p.m.
- Austria passes gay civil unions bill 2:24 p.m.
- McGrady on pace for All-Star game 2:03 p.m.
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- I-15 expansion barreling south
- Panel passes BCS playoff bill
- Psychologist: Mitchell schizophrenic
- Mutated version of H1N1 found
- Utes crash the glass to get big win
- Letters: Global warming a lie
252 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
192 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
148 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
142 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
142 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
123 - Revive full food tax?
104 - Panel passes BCS playoff bill
101
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
My wife Lisa and I would prefer never to argue. But that's not going to...
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
MJ's spokesperson (Estee Portnoy, who has coordinated his schedule and...
Wait a second.A group of forest workers are relaxing in the hot pools at...
Better clueless, then classless. Cewgs will roll the pukes soon enough!
This is GREAT! Someone else - other than the UBA who offer SPARQ, baseball...
Perhaps a new offense called "Public YUCK!" is called for.
'Pagan, are you really that dense? Or do you just enjoy circular arguments?'...
There are no answers people. Lakers are bigger, stronger, faster, smarter....
there was also 9,200 fans thier and it became quite loud at times. It...
The Trib does not have a banquet. Only First team players from the D-News...
Awesome season thanks to Pitta and George. Great players and people. I think...


