These are classic discussions published back in January 2010
Cybersquatting Legislation
I am running legislation, to crack down on cybersquatting.
Last year, we stalled on legislation addressing the practice of search engines selling trademarks as search terms. Sen. Liljenquist and I were tasked to work with the combatants over the interim. We realized that we’d never reach a viable conclusion; but, importantly, we realized that all the companies involved in the discussions, and countless other businesses, did have a common appetite to find a solution to cybersquatting. So, we started working on that issue.
Jim Halpert (not that Jim Halpert, but, yes, the Jim “childhood friend” Halpert) expertly led the discussions from Paris. (Negotiations took a hiatus, when Jim went on a buddy trip with Andy Bernard; not that Andy Bernard, but, yes, the Andy “childhood friend” Bernard). Michael Scott had nothing to do with the legislation.
Though one small area of disagreement remains, the legislation has the support of Google, AOL, Yahoo, Comcast, AT&T;, Verizon, 1-800 Contacts, and... (read more)
Legislative Ethics
President Waddoups appointed me to chair the Senate Ethics Committee. The first task in that new position is to help guide the legislative ethics package of reforms that started last session (with new laws regarding gifts and disclosures) and progressed this summer (including further work on disclosures, campaign financing, and – most importantly, in my opinion – an ethics commission made up of non-legislators that allows for considerations of citizens’ complaints). A few observations.
First, on the citizens’ initiative. Citizen participation is a great thing and, unfortunately, is not common enough. During and after getting spanked by a citizens’ referendum on my voucher bill in 2007 (the only time that’s ever happened in the history of Utah, thank you very much), I voiced my heartfelt support for Utah’s process for inviting citizen-directed actions:
Referenda act as a rip cord. If the populace thinks that government got something terribly wrong, the referendum process allows the public to step in... (read more)
State Retirement — Actuarial Report
The actuarial data behind my previous post on Utah’s retirement system can be found here.
Utah’s Retirement System
Utah’s Retirement System is financially unsustainable. [ed. -- Instead of "unsustainable," I originally wrote "unsound," which is imprecise; because the system is backed by the taxpayers of the State, who can always be hit up for more and more money to fund it, it is fiscally sound -- it's just not sustainable; as I will explain in the comments, to sustain the present system, the draw on taxpayers' wallets and all other areas of government would be huge]. On present course, we will soon be billions of dollars underwater. Something needs to change. And, that has our public employees very nervous.
Two initial points –
One, something has to be done this session. This is a compounding problem. The longer we wait, the worse the problem gets. It is neither wise nor fair to simply bump the problem forward. Because the system is structurally flawed, “wait” is not a proposal that fits the problem.
Two, existing employees must be treated fairly.... (read more)
Sex Ed