Citing population growth, Utah lawmakers want more paid assistants

SALT LAKE CITY — Members of the Utah Senate would like to hire more staff. it’s needed, said Sen. Minority Whip Luz Escamilla, because of Utah’s population growth.

According to the Senate leadership, right now there are six to eight lawmakers per paid assistant. A new bill would increase that number and give some members a dedicated assistant.

Each member of the Republican and Democratic leadership would get a dedicated assistant, as would the chair of each standing committee and several other vice chair’s.

The cost to taxpayers would likely be at least a million dollars.

Two Democratic members of the Senate wouldn’t get a dedicated staffer because the Utah senate only has six Democrats and four of them are in leadership positions.

This story will be updated.