August 11, 2026

Jim Dabakis is taking his lessons from Harry Reid

August 10, 2012 by

Utah Democratic Chair Jim Dabakis is on the hunt. Or perhaps more accurate, a fishing expedition.

He’s trying to force the Utah Legislature to let him play by different rules than other tax payers by giving him documents for free just because he claims to smell a rat, never mind that he lacks any proof.

Like Harry Reid claiming Mitt Romney hasn’t paid taxes, an assertion that can only be disproved by exposing Romney to undue scrutiny, Dabakis is claiming a foul against the Utah Legislature that can be disproved only by granting Dabakis special privileges not given to other mere humans (i.e. tax payers).

The Legislature should uphold its duty to the people of Utah and requiring Dabakis and the Democratic Party to pay for the documents Dabakis has requested, just like everyone else. Allowing Dabakis a special priviledge and to have them without paying would set a bad precedent of the Utah Legislature bowing to pressure from political party leaders.

It’s ironic, really. That’s a complaint that Dabakis is usually leveling against the Legislature about Republicans, not the other way around. Funny how things change when the shoe is on the other foot. [cont…]

Filed Under: Democratic Politics Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Educational Saving Accounts for High School Students is Good Step

February 27, 2012 by

Rep. John Dougall, known in Utah legislative circle as an “ideas guy”* and “freight train”** for the breadth and creativity of the bills he’s carrying this year, had a great idea: why not let high school students and their parents pick the public school solution that best meets their educational needs?

It’s a step in the right direction, if just a small step.

Every once in a while, a good idea comes along. One such idea was… [continued]

Filed Under: Education Reform Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Meet Rep. Brad Galvez of Utah’s 6th Legislative District

February 16, 2012 by

Representative Brad Galvez is best known, in legislative circles, for passing a bill last year that allowed Utahn’s to pay their debts in gold and silver coins, as well as avoid state capital gains tax on gold and silver. In a legislative effort to slow the inflation of the dollar, at least for Utahns, Rep. Galvez is pushing forward a proposal that would help integrate gold and silver into Utah’s commerce, something that while legal after last year, is a bit impractical. [cont…]

Filed Under: Utah Legislature Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Meet Senator Todd Weiler of Utah’s 23rd Senate District

February 14, 2012 by

Although I’ve known Senator Todd Weiler for a couple years now, perhaps what most indicates his quality and value is how he is judged against his opponents in his election, earlier this year, to the Utah Senate. I was there in Davis County when Republican Party delegates met with and listened to speeches from seven candidates seeking to fill the state Senate seat vacated when Dan Liljenquist challenged Orrin Hatch for the US Senate. I met several of them, and I am good friends with one of them (occasional contributor here, Ben Lusty). Without exception, all were qualified and intelligent individuals, and I would be hard pressed to find a local race in recent memory where so many good candidates have been seeking the same office.

Todd beat them all, though, and with good reason. [cont…]

Filed Under: Utah Legislature Tagged With: , , , ,

Hide your children, hide your wife…it’s the 2012 Legislative Session!

January 24, 2012 by

If you are intent on following what’s going on in the legislature, and I think its not a bad idea, there are a lot of ways to do it. This is the era of the internet, after all, and it’s easier than ever to get information fast, even when you can’t go hobnob at the State Capitol itself (especially if, like me, you’ve gotta keep your day job). Whether you follow the tweets and the stories from your favorite local reporter and/or legislator, read the paper, check into the Utah Senate and House web sites to research bills, or actually show up at the Capitol, here’s a short guide to some of the tools out there (with due credit, of course, to the reporting team over at the Salt Lake Tribune which suggested most of these sources): [cont…]

Filed Under: Utah Legislature Tagged With: , , , , , ,

David Clark Announces for 2nd Congressional, & Lowry Snow Replaces Him in the State House. [Press Announcement]

January 12, 2012 by

A friend of mine on the Clark for Congress campaign forwarded to me David Clark’s campaign announcement (at bottom). With Clark’s resignation from the House, delegates have chosen V. Lowry Snow as Clark’s replacement at the Utah House of Representatives. Snow is an attorney and businessman, a founding…[cont].

Filed Under: Republican Politics Tagged With: , , , ,

If you’re gonna insist on voting, you might as well inform yourself.

January 9, 2012 by

If you’re gonna insist on voting, you might as well inform yourself.

And political scientist Adam Brown is here to help. He’s started to compile a database of legislator profiles, as well flashcards.

That’s right. Flashcards. {cont…]

Filed Under: Utah Legislature Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »