These are classic discussions published back in January 2006
Evolution
Much has been written about the Senate bill regarding the teaching of evolution in our public education system (or, as the bill says, teaching regarding “the origins of life” — which, based on the discussion, seems to mean evolution). I don’t have time to add to that dialogue at this time, but I will link to a D-News article that describes my position on the bill.
In short, proponents of the bill claim it has nothing to do with religion or faith. Okay. Since we’re just dealing with scientific education and nothing more, the relevant inquiry becomes what alternative theory or theories has/have sufficient recognition in the scientific community (the relevant community, if we’re just talking about science education) to warrant such a disclaimer as the bill would require?
Much has changed since I received my degree in biology 17 years ago. But, I’m not aware that any other scientific theory describing the diversity of species has gained... (read more)
Your Call May Be Monitored
Rep. Doug Aagard had the thankless task this summer of chairing a task force on the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). A copy of his bill to enact the task force’s recommendations can be found here.
Various interests, but especially the media, have concerns over aspects of the bill. I have been asked to help moderate the discussion. Though I think most points will be readily resolved, the biggest sticking point concerns communications from citizens to their representatives (line 475-476).
Two (exaggerated) examples can paint the dispute. One, there should be disclosure of an e-mail that says, “Make sure X passes, and a shiny, new Mercedes will be all yours.” Two, there should not be disclosure of an e-mail that says, “My kids go to school with Rep. X’s kids. Though I like him, I sure think he’s crazy, if he believes . . ..”
Many communications I receive fall into the latter... (read more)
Voting
Military personnel in hostile fire zones and overseas citizens in areas with unreliable mail service have difficulties voting through absentee ballots. To address that issue, the Lt. Gov’s office (which is over elections) asked me to run HB 67, which would allow for electronic voting in those situations. With Lt. Gov. Herbert graciously helping me present it, the bill passed out of committee today and moves to the House floor.
An interesting and concerning trade-off in the bill is that the voter has to waive the right to a secret ballot (line 99) in order to use the procedure. The county clerk transcribes the electronic vote onto a normal ballot (lines 122 and 123) which, then, is counted. Though the vote is deemed a “private” document, afforded the protections currently available for such documents (lines 110-112), we had a bit of a discussion in committee about the “sacredness” of a secret ballot. No doubt, this procedure... (read more)
Food Tax
The bill to remove the food tax passed out of committee on a vote of 11-2. It now goes before the full house (probably this week, unless we bog down). If you want to track its progress, click here.
“It’s Not My Job”
The Tribune, unintentionally, editorializes strongly in favor of accountability in public education. The editorial suggests the Legislature did a “bait and switch” in 1999 when it imposed testing requirements for graduation. Until that switch was made, apparently, no one really expected students to actually learn anything.
Aside from that oddity, I agree with the editorial’s conclusion that the Legislature needs to fund remediation. I’m running a bill to do just that. However, my bill will fund results, not inputs. Only after a previously-failing student passes the UBSCT test will the provider of the remedial services (public or private) receive its compensation.
Legislative Training
Groups have recently been providing their members “legislative training” for the upcoming session. Stuff like, “If a Senator nods off mid-sentence, just wait, and act like nothing happened when he wakes.”
I still think one of the best visual illustrations of legislative process can be found here. Get training; we start Monday.
My suggestion for dealing with legislators is — remember that we work for you, but, also, remember that you’ve given us a lot to juggle. If you want something, send your Representative or Senator an e-mail (small words and short sentences for the Senators), place a phone call, or pay him/her a visit. The deeper into a session we get, the more demands there are on our time. So, jump in as early as you can. And try not to be self-conscious. Even if you’re new at it, you’re still the boss.
Federal Transportation Pork
John Fund wrote an insightful Wall Street Journal editorial on Congressional earmarking. (hat tip: Scott at Reach Upward). Fund writes:
Earmarks have become the corrupt currency by which bills like the ruinously expensive prescription drug entitlement are bought vote by vote. They inevitably result in some lower-priority projects being funded first, with potentially disastrous results.
and
Earmarks have created their own parasitic specialized lobbying industry. “They go client hunting, telling cities or counties they can virtually guarantee an earmark,” says Ron Utt, a former federal budget official now at the Heritage Foundation.
Last month, the Spectrum ran an editorial opposing Rep. John Dougall’s suggestion that cities be prohibited from hiring federal lobbyists to undercut the State’s transportation priorities.
The issue is how we should best prioritize construction projects for the State’s highway system — either (1) through the State’s prioritization process or (2) through Congressional line-item-veto authority over that prioritization process. At the end of the day, that’s all earmarking... (read more)
Food Tax