ALL NEWS

Utah lawmakers talk about missed opportunities

Mar 15, 2019, 9:01 AM

Photo: Colby Walker | KSLNewsRadio...

Photo: Colby Walker | KSLNewsRadio

SALT LAKE CITY — Leaders on Capitol Hill almost all said they wished they could have done something with tax reform this session, but it did feel too rushed at the end. The Governor hopes a special session this summer will be able to look at a new plan that includes a bigger tax cut for Utahns as well as add taxes on more services.

“It’s a complex issue and, certainly, it’s a significantly important issue, but we need to do a better job of communication,” said Governor Gary Herbert.

Representative Mike Winder, R-West Valley said no tax bill this session feels “like the big unfinished business of the session, because we have a structural imbalance we have to deal with.”

Similar feelings were voiced by Rep. Steven Handy (R-Davis) as well, “Tax reform came so late, it was so complicated, even the rank and file didn’t understand it.”

Some lawmakers weren’t happy about some compromises on big issues, even if they passed. Or they didn’t like changes to certain bills.

“I was really hoping we’d have some real progress made in conversion therapy, and that definitely got bogged down in politics,” said Salt Lake Democratic State Senator Derek Kitchen.

Feelings that were shared by Republican Lt. Governor Spencer Cox, “The conversion therapy issue was disappointing for sure,”  agreed he said, “We were really close to getting something done there.”

Medicaid was another big bill that State Sen. Luz Escamilla (D-Salt Lake) wasn’t happy with, “We had to deal with Medicaid expansion that was not an ideal bill,” she said

“I had HB 209, extreme risk protection orders,” Rep. Handy told us, “we worked really hard on it, took it as far as it could go. It didn’t get a hearing. Maybe next year.”

Davis County Republican state senator Todd Weiler says education, transportation and clean air are topics that never seemed to be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

He thinks gun bills, police and firefighter salaries and retirement will be back next year.

“We are a reactive body, if something big happens like the Lauren McCluskey shooting, there’s always stuff that we are reacting too,” said Weiler.

And he mentioned another disappointment:

“Tire recycling, as weird as that sounds. We reimburse companies to recycle tires so they don’t end up in our landfills, but we don’t reimburse them enough. I was trying to get a bill passed this year and I had to scale it back,” he said.

 

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

All News

Traffic moves on I-15 in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 18, 2023. UDOT says we will see heavy traf...

Britt Johnson

Easter weekend and spring break will bring heavy traffic this weekend, UDOT predicts

Spring Break and Easter could team up this weekend to create some heavy traffic. 

13 minutes ago

"Burn Book," by longtime Silicon Valley reporter Kara Swisher is seen, Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, in Sa...

Jeff Caplan

Jeff Caplan’s Minute of News: Telling tales about tech bros

Kara Swisher’s new book paints an ugly picture of Silicon Valley.

2 hours ago

pets...

Curt Gresseth

Don’t surrender pets to a shelter. Send in a pro to reverse bad behavior, says Utah trainer

An expert discusses controlling the unwanted behavior of pets.

2 hours ago

Exclusive video obtained by KSL NewsRadio shows Salt Lake hit-and-run in the Avenues neighborhood. ...

Eric Cabrera

WATCH: Exclusive video shows woman survives Salt Lake City hit and run

KSL NewsRadio has exclusively obtained footage of a Salt Lake City hit-and-run, where a woman was struck while out for a run in the Avenues.

2 hours ago

Defense attorney John Prior questions David Warwick during Chad Daybell's preliminary hearing in Fr...

Emma Keddington

Judge orders gag order for upcoming Chad Daybell case

Judge Steven Boyce has issued a gag order in the Chad Daybell case, after Daybell's attorney spoke with a media outlet.

2 hours ago

colorado river...

Adam Small

More than half of the Colorado River’s water is being used for farming, study finds

The Colorado River provides water to 40 million people in seven states, including Utah, as well as Mexico.

2 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Utah lawmakers talk about missed opportunities